Easter 6 A + I will not leave you orphaned + 5.17.20

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M. Campbell-Langdell
All Saints, Oxnard
(Ps. 66:7-18; 1 Peter 3:13-22; St. John 14:15-21)
”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you.”
In addition to more edifying content, almost everyone I know has been finding some brain candy for this quarantine time. For Genesis, this means playing Fortnite with friends, and for Alene and me, that has meant watching the show “Merlin” from the mid to late 2000s. We have enjoyed the portrayal of the young magician as he grows into a man and builds a working relationship with Prince Arthur, who becomes a young King Arthur. Although Merlin is often the humble, quiet foil to Arthur’s brazen, arrogant warrior personality, time and time again in the series we begin to see why Arthur is so well respected in myth. Because time and again he will not abandon his people –be it a single knight or even his servant Merlin. Although he seems to think he is a different level of person as royalty (as is fitting with ancient concepts of the anointing of kings) he recognizes the value of equality and seeing the value of each person in Camelot.
When Bishop Curry spoke to the Nuevo Amanecer online Latino ministry conference this week, he suggested that he begins to think that the opposite of love is not hate, but rather selfishness. He reminded us that “love is the way from an old me to a new me,” and “love is the way from an old we to a new we.” He also shared with us Bishop Tutu’s quote, possibly of Augustine: “by himself, God won’t. By ourselves, we can’t. But together with God we can.” That is why we rely on each other and God to do more than we can ask for or imagine.
In Arthur’s example I see how unselfish living, even in a mythical setting, is the way to true greatness. And so many have modeled this unselfish way of living at this time. From the nurses and doctors and other essential workers who risk their own safety that others might have life and life abundant, to those who have remained at home and greatly limited their activity to only what is essential. I have also seen unselfishness in the businesses that have taken losses at this time rather than risk others’ lives.
Now we are in a moment when we are beginning to re-open some areas, although the church still awaits permission to move back to in person worship. And this is a challenge to us. To remain as unselfish as possible as we begin to interact more. To support local businesses and meet our basic needs but not to just re-enter without caution. The coronavirus remains a real threat, especially to our medically sensitive brethren.
But it is totally understandable, this desire for normalcy. It is not all about money. We are lonely! We are literally hungry for interaction. Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found that chronic social isolation is akin to being deprived of food in the long term. They say that the place deep in the brain that craves nourishment is also the place that craves company.[1] No wonder when I show up to work at Bread of Life or stop by to drop something at someone’s step and get to wave at a masked, 6 foot distance, or through a window, I feel so much better afterwards! Especially those of us who live alone occasionally need human interaction. And thank God for pets!
But in today’s gospel we are reminded that Jesus will never leave us alone. He was our advocate while on earth and sends the Spirit, an advocate, to be with us. So if you ever feel lonesome, remember, Jesus does not leave us helpless. As it says in the Psalm, God “who holds our souls in life, will not allow our feet to slip (Ps. 66:8).”
And God is sometimes most visible to each of us in each other. So remember to reach out to the church and to other beloveds so that you feel less alone. This week at Nuevo Amanecer, I attended a panel  on the Living Compass wellness model and the presenter reminded us of something. While many of us are attending online worship and Bible study, not all of us are finding ways to tend to our mental and physical health. The presenter reminded us that Living Compass has online resources including those that can be used by small groups in the parish led by lay leaders. If that is something that might fill that need for you, reach out to me and perhaps we can get a group going.
What is giving you health and wellness at this time? If you can’t think of anything, reach out to me or to another friend in Christ to brainstorm ways to find as much health as possible in this difficult time. And if you can think of something that is bringing you joy, give yourself permission to do more of it.
In all of this, Jesus’ spirit never leaves us. Let us accompany each other unselfishly and with Christian love. And we will yet see a better way, and a better day.

[1] From Christian Century, May 6, p. 11 - quoting Scientific American, April 2.

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