Easter 3 A + Precious + 4.30.17

-
(from: https://www.etsy.com/listing/293428035/
inspirational-quote-art-print-mary?ref=market)
M. Campbell-Langdell
All Santos, Oxnard
(Acts 2:14a,36-41; Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17; 1 Peter 1:17-23; Luke 24:13-35)

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his servants (Ps. 116:13).”
Today in the English service and Spanish service we honor two servants of God, Evelyn, Cindy’s aunt and Eduardo, Haydee’s husband. And I often wonder—what does it mean that the death of God’s servants is precious in his sight? Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that, even though death makes us farther from our loved ones, they become closer to God, and he delights in receiving them.
Today we remember these servants who have gone to be with God. Particularly Evelyn and Eduardo but also all those we hold in our hearts. We remember their many accomplishments-for Evelyn the feat of breaking into the male-dominated world of photography management in Hollywood during the post war years and her love of travel with her Italian husband. For Eduardo, it was excelling at his skill as a mechanic and supporting his family. While on the surface they did not have a lot in common, they both had complex relationships with God. And they both had flaws. As we all do. So their family and friends must remember them in their entirety, trying to understand the flaws and forgive them and thanking God for the gifts they shared with us on their earthly sojourn.
They were both people with questions about God-just as we heard about Thomas last week having questions and affirming us having questions in our faith journey. Questions are good. Searching for God is good. Because we know that in searching for God, we find God.
And usually this process of finding God is not a result of a finely honed argument presented to us but rather it comes in a revelation while sharing together with other Christians or other people of faith. One commentator on this gospel passage about the Emmaus encounter points out that Jesus does not prove his resurrected existence to the disciples by arguing with them-true they felt a burning in their hearts, something connected-but it was truly as they broke bread together that his real self was revealed. That they found God was there with them.[1]
This is so true, isn’t it? Wonderful conversations can stay with us for years, but to truly experience God’s presence often you must have some kind of Christ-encounter. Something that goes beyond what your mind understands and your eyes see and breaks through to your heart and consciousness at another level. And these moments don’t usually happen when you are expecting them. They just come together.
I was at my book club the other day and a person mentioned how harmful the traditional interpretations of the scriptures that are read as condemning homosexuality are. And I felt in that moment that it was an opportunity to share God’s love. Not by convincing, although there are many arguments and ways to interpret the scriptures in an affirming way, but just by first stating what we believe and how we believe differently about these scriptures as Episcopalians and beginning to show another way. The arguments will follow as they are helpful for my friend. But the main thing in that moment was to use that as a possible Emmaus moment to reveal Christ’s love for all people, Christ’s invitation of all to the table, to that person and that group.
I had a different Emmaus moment with Evelyn. A few times when I visited her with Cindy or just stopped by I brought communion with me, just in case. I knew she had not taken communion in a long time and felt a bit disconnected from her childhood faith in some ways. And a couple of times, she was not up for it. But on one particular visit, the timing was just right. Evelyn was ready. And we took communion, read about a strong woman in the Bible, and followed it up with a lively discussion of her experience as the first woman running the office of a Hollywood photography studio. We joked about how she was a nasty woman in the best way! And it was such an Emmaus moment, because in the breaking of the bread we felt connected to Evelyn and saw her connect to God afresh. Thanks be to God!
I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Eduardo, but from all I have heard from Haydee and others who loved him, there were moments of God breaking in shared with him, also. Chances are, it wasn’t when a brilliant argument was made, but it was in a simple moment of sharing. Perhaps sharing a meal. Perhaps just a cup of coffee or a “booster” when he was sick. If you can today, remember those moments, if you had a moment of pure connection, whether they were with Evelyn and Eduardo or another loved one. Remember that hidden somewhere in that moment was the love of God. The love of God for your loved one and the love of God for each of us. Because we are precious to God.
I invite you to think of the Emmaus moments in your life. When have you felt most connected to God by connecting with others in community? When have the words you have heard about God finally come clear and rung pure as a bell, inflaming your heart with fire? In what quiet moment have you simply been present to another and felt God in your midst, too?
Because “[Christ] was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake. Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God (1 Peter 1:20-21).”
Our hope is let on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. Let us look for those moments when we truly connect and share the faith, because in breaking bread and building that faith together we are all made whole in God.  Amen


[1] Rolf Jacobson, Karoline Lewis, Matt Skinner, “Working Preacher Sermon Brainwave Podcast: #538- The Third Sunday after Easter,” https://www.workingpreacher.org/brainwave.aspx?podcast_id=878. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Faith or Fear? Advent 1C

-
Melissa Campbell-Langdell All Santos, Oxnard Year C + Advent 1 (Jeremiah 33:14–16; Ps. 25:1–9; 1 Thess. 3:9–13; Luke 21:25–36) So… what are you going to do when you stand before the man with the holes in his hands? Now that may seem like a strange question to ask this first Sunday in December.  Surely, Pastor Melissa, we’re gearing up for jollity, not getting ready to meet our maker? But in a sense we are, always, all the time, waiting for Jesus, and I think that’s what Advent is really all about.  Reminding us that we are always waiting not just for the Christ Child to come and be born in our midst, but that we are also waiting for that awesome, if slightly scary Second Coming of Christ. And it is true that this passage talks about distress and the roaring of the waves.  And many looked at the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy, that iconic image of the ocean-side theme park, including a Ferris Wheel, in the waves, and many said, this is something w...
Read more

Proper 20 (B) + A community of power + 9.23.18

-
Image
M. Campbell-Langdell All Saints, Oxnard (Proverbs 31:10–31; Ps. 1; James 3:13–4:3, 7–8ª; St. Mark 9:30–37) Take a moment and think of the most powerful positive woman figure you know – in your life or in your favorite movie, show or book. Who is the woman who has most inspired you? Keep that image of that woman in mind as we look at this passage from Proverbs Chapter 31. Now here we see the verse “A capable wife who can find?” And all the feminists amongst us will be relieved to hear that a better translation from the Hebrew would be: “a woman of power” instead of a “capable wife.” [1] That changes things, doesn’t it? Then when we hear about this ideal ancient Hebrew woman’s exploits – her buying of lands, her trading prowess, her physical strength, even her domestic abilities such as weaving, and perhaps especially her kindness to the poor, we see strength and power in all of these. Of course, looking at this passage, this is not one woman but a concept of the most...
Read more

Proper21BAcceptingourownwounds29sept24

-
  Accepting our own and other’s wounds Mark 9: 38-50   St Michael’s, Isla Vista / All Saints Oxnard The Rev. Alene Campbell-Langdell; MCL additions   May I just start this morning by acknowledging that our Gospel reading is complex.   The images are startling (horrifying?) and the metaphors come almost too quickly to catch.   What is clear is that something serious is going on between Jesus and his disciples, and Jesus is using every means possible, including some pretty harsh language, to try to course correct.   To even begin to understand this passage, we need to back up to last week’s reading from Mark.   In that reading, the disciples are arguing with each other about who is the greatest and best disciple.   In response, Jesus gets a little kid, some commentators say “toddler,” and holds this child in his arms during the rest of the conversation.    The other part of the scene to keep in mind is that Jesus has just told...
Read more