Proper 19 B + Following the way + 9/12/21

 

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38)

If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

One of the cities we visited on our travels this summer was Memphis. Many people, when visiting Memphis, that graceful city on the Mississippi River, will think of Elvis and his home, Graceland. Or the Stax Museum and the rich history of the African-American music that comes from that city. But I, being a "Church nerd" think of the martyrs of Memphis.

You may have heard the story. It was the year 1878 and the City of Memphis suffered an epidemic of yellow fever. It was so devastating that the population was reduced until it was almost non-existent in official eyes until it re-incorporated 14 years later. Many people died. Although at that time they did not understand that the mosquito transmitted the disease, they realized that the people who were in the high and dry land did not get sick. So a lot of people moved out of town. But there were people who were left without resources, and were ill. It was in this situation that a group of nuns and their community, a group we call Sister Constance and her companions, decided to stay in the city and take care of the sick. Many lives were saved, but up to 38 community members died. So on our calendar we honor Constance and her classmates on September 9th - their day was this week.^[1]

We often say that most of us will not have the opportunity to give of ourselves the way the Memphis martyrs did. But in the past year and a half, we have seen people who have volunteered to serve in high risk environments. Although they put their own lives at risk, nurses, doctors, and a wide variety of people have cared for and served those sick with COVID-19. Why? Of course it's their job. But beyond this, it is the calling that God has placed on their lives. And we owe a lot to them.

For the rest of us I believe that hearing the words of Jesus here can encourage us to take a more subtle action - to look at our lives and think about how we act. Do we make decisions only for our own good? Or we can be inspired by the Memphis martyrs of the past and health workers more recently to act for the good of others?

Many of us have been doing this where we can. We have worn masks to protect others. Of those who can, many of us have received the vaccine so that we cannot get and share COVID-19, or at least to make us less likely to share the disease.

But this pandemic has stretched on and on. Once again we hear of things being canceled - again we will not see the Fiestas Patrias parade next week. It is exhausting.

And yesterday we marked the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Every year I buy some labels for my journal so I can have a sense of the seasons on my calendar each week. Living in Southern California, it reminds me that we are almost into fall, a favorite season of mine. But every year there is a label that says "Never Forget." "Never forget." How am I going to forget? I was less than 100 miles from Ground Zero and I met many people personally affected by September 11th. But more than this, I don't like this term because to me it sounds too much like "Never Forgive." If we keep anger and fear in our hearts, we can never grow, as a nation or personally. Yes, this was an act of terrorism and it was horrific. And yes, I will never forget the lives lost that terrible day.

But when we face problems is when we judge others as a result of this experience. Just the other day there was an article in the LA Times sharing the experiences of young Muslim women who have been born since 9/11. They feel judgment for something that is not a part of their lived experience. Honoring those who perished and some like the firefighters who sacrificed their lives to save others does not mean hating or fearing people who look like the radicalized young men who committed that crime. We have to find another way. But I believe that, in our human weakness, we cannot do it ourselves. But the good news is that we can do it with the help of Christ. When we put our ego aside, and follow Christ.

One way to express this comes from a theologian who is now with God, M.R. Ritley, an Episcopal priest who was also inspired by the mystical tradition of the Sufi Muslims. She says:

This is the lesson on following the Way. Remember it.

How do you follow the way?
Go where you are sent.
Wait till you are shown what to do.
Do it with the whole self.
Remain till you have done what you were sent to do.
Walk away with empty hands.

How much will it cost?
The cost is everything, for all you are and all you have will be asked of you before the journey runs its course.

How will you know your fellow travelers?
Their faces are marked by the scars of love.

No one will ever tell you that the Way is easy: only that it is possible. No one can tell you if the journey is worthwhile, for your wages are concealed in the hand of God, and will be shown you only on the last day of eternity.

But whoever chooses to follow the Way will have the joyous company of God’s beloved fools as fellow travelers, and a resting place, at journey’s end, in the Mecca of the heart.

This is the lesson on following the Way. Remember it.[2]

These words inspire me – my wages are in the hand of God- that is to say it is God who rewards the martyrs of Memphis and our modern-day public health workers, and will reward us. To lose our life is to gain it. To lose our focus on living for ourselves and instead to live for others is to gain true life. Taking up our cross is a sacrifice. But we do it because of the examples we have been given. And because we live not only for ourselves, but for others and for the glory of God.

Amen.

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[1] http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Constance.htm

[2] Following the Way - Ana Hernández Ana Hernández (anahernandez.org). With thanks to Ana Hernandez for reprinting this on her blog.