Easter 6 (C) + Listen, open, follow + 5.26.19

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Acts 16:9–15; Ps. 67; Revelation 21:10, 22–22:5; John 14:23–29)

Last week I had the moving experience of attending the Oxnard Police Memorial. I was doing so as a part of the clergy-police council and as a way to show neighborly support. I did this not because I believe that the police are perfect but because I believe that community engagement with the police helps the police be stronger and better. But I did not expect to tear up a bit when I saw a particularly moving tradition. At the end of the program, a rider-less horse was processed down the length of the police officers, all standing at salute. This horse symbolized all the members of law enforcement who have been lost over the years and somehow seeing that horse without its rider was quite moving.
And it came to mind as I prepared to preach for today, and thought of all the monuments in small town squares in my birth country, England, and here in our little Plaza, where names are listed, ways of remembering the fallen in wars. We dream of a time when war is no longer our way, and perhaps none pray for that day more fervently than those who have lost loved ones in conflicts.

Each Tuesday the website DailyOffice.Org lists prayers for armed service members and lists any who have perished in the last week. Often those who have died are young and have not had a chance to have particularly illustrious careers, but we honor them tomorrow and this weekend because they had the courage to put all self-preservation aside to serve their country.

In many ways, Paul models a similar sacrificial way of life for us as Christians in today’s reading from The Acts of the Apostles. He attempts to travel to the next region in Asia and is somehow impeded and called in a vision or a dream to Macedonia, the area above and including what we now call Greece. And that is how he ends up in Philippi, preaching to this band of women led by Lydia, the seller of purple dyed cloth. And that is how the Spirit brings Paul to bring Lydia, the first European to be baptized, to Christ!

What an amazing act of the Spirit! Because as our Wednesday group’s study by Justo Gonzalez called Three Months With the Spirit constantly points out, the Acts of the Apostles are not really the acts of the apostles but rather the acts of the Spirit. And this is clearly an act of the Spirit. An interesting question raised is whether, if the person in the vision from Macedonia had been a woman, whether Paul would have been as willing to venture out? We don’t know. But we do know that Paul was obedient to the Spirit rather than his own plan and then Lydia didn’t stick to her regular worshipping plan – she was gathering a community to worship, after all – but listened to Paul and was baptized. And so she also followed the Spirit’s lead.
And how wonderful that today just happens to be the day that Elin is baptized! Elin, who continues a long line of strong girls and women who are believers and who, we hope, will be a Spirit-follower. We have many words to say in the Baptismal covenant and to ask of those who will inspire her faith and life, but a major question is: will she follow the Spirit’s guidance? Will we teach her to do so?

Following the Spirit’s guidance is not an easy endeavor. It can be scary at times. Sometimes we realize that doing so has us venture into unknown territory.  A bit more than a month back, some representatives from the Mixteco Indigenous Community Organizing Project showed up at our office, and they were glowing! Well the truth is that the leader of the group, Dr. Lorri Santamaria, had gold glitter on her face and she looked radiant. And they smiled as they told us about a project they have designed to combat anxiety and depression among indigenous Mexicans and others from the American diaspora of First Nations in Oxnard. They had learned from their elders about healing teas, and energy work and steam baths that help cure these maladies of mind, body and heart. And they wanted to host some of this healing work here at All Santos.
Well at first, this was exciting but fearful. Several wise members and leaders in our midst said, be careful. Have they considered safety? The impact on the facilities? The fact that I will be on sabbatical beginning mid-June for a couple of months? Is this good timing?
So we went back to the group with all of these questions. And it turned out that they had considered all of these concerns, and many of them were addressed in their planning with county agencies. We have insurance, safety and some remuneration to offset church costs.
Around then I read a section on the book of Acts in Justo Gonzalez’s book and he pointed out that we often wait until everything feels entirely safe to move forward. He challenged his reader with this phrase: “Beginning today, I will no longer wait until all doubts are cleared before I act. I will ask for the direction of the Spirit; I will consult with others. Then, I will do whatever I believe that the Spirit is guiding me to do. I will take the risk of being wrong, but I will not take the risk of not doing anything.”[1]

Wow. What a push! Not easy to do in church. But I still could not make this decision on my own, because I will not physically be here in case anything goes awry. So I was amazed when, following the second meeting with MICOP, our Senior Warden Cindy Morales made the brave move of offering to be the church’s point person as needed. Mostly, this will be a very self-contained project, but Cindy courageously offered because it was important to her that we as a county look at alternative healing methods. This project has the potential to be a huge benefit to our indigenous brothers and sisters, and with Cindy’s courage, and the answers we had gathered, the vestry felt more comfortable moving forward.

The Spirit moves in mysterious ways. Who knew when Paul was travelling that he would launch the church in Europe and that it would continue to spread around the world, and to bring healing to the nations? Who knows what our little action of being the host space for healing will do for those who often feel unmoored in this unfamiliar environment. Will it bring them closer to God? Will the healing be in mind only, or will it heal spiritual wounds? I do not know. But I do hope that our movement forward is one of the many ways the Spirit is moving in our midst.
In these past few weeks we have been experiencing baptisms – such joyous occasions! But they have not only been ways for current parishioners to more deeply connect with their faith. They have also been moments of reconnection for some who used to belong to our parish. We have a new crop of grand communion candidates forming of the children of those who attended here as kids, nurtured by the instruction of our own Cindy Morales.
Faithful people nurture more faithful, Spirit following people, and the adventure continues!
As Elin is baptized today, think about your own baptism, and renew your commitment to listen to the Spirit. Lean into this community as a way to nurture that listening ear. And remember that whatever happens, no matter how scary it may seem at first, God has prepared for us who love God such good things as surpass our understanding. Something good is coming! Let us listen. Let us be open. Let us follow!

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[1] Justo Gonzalez Three Months with the Spirit (Nashville: Abingdon, 2003), 130.