Sermon:
If anything, this time of COVID 19 lockdown, no in-person services, virtual services, Zoom meetings, online classes, social distancing, masks, washing of hands, combined with the thousands of demonstrations and protest around the country and even abroad against racism and discrimination – if anything, I do think that we as a church has learned something. Or it is my hope.
As a society and as a church we have had to embrace changes and challenges these past months and weeks. Suddenly we could not meet as we usually do and as we love to do; suddenly we could not be social, giving hugs and warm handshakes, suddenly we had to hide behind masks and closed doors. These past months we have been meeting online, virtual, on social media, zooming and making phone calls. This has become our new normal and we are just figuring out how to reopen our houses of worship in a safe, responsible, and caring manner.
We have witnessed demonstrations against Governor’s Stay at Home orders, masks and closed beaches and churches, claiming that it violated freedom and rights.
These past weeks, we have witnessed thousands of demonstrations all over the country and even abroad against racism and discrimination.
So, where do we go from here? Where are we heading and how do we get where we want to be? As impatient kids often ask from the backseats “Are we there yet?” we do know that we are not there yet. This society and our culture are on its way. And so is our church.
I will share with you a prayer, I found in “Searching for Sunday” by Rachel Held Evans and it a prayer adapted from Alcuin of York, who was an English scholar, clergyman, poet and teacher from York, North Umbria. He was born around 735.
“God, go with us.
Help us to be an honor to the church.
Give us the grace to follow Christ’s word,
To be clear in our task and careful in our speech.
Give us open hands and joyful hearts.
Let Christ be on our lips.
May our lives reflect a love of truth and compassion.
Let no one come to us and go away sad.
May we offer hope to the poor, and solace to the disheartened.
Let us sow living seeds, words that are quick with life, that faith may be the harvest in people’s hearts.
In word and in example let your light shine
In the dark like the morning star.
Do not allow the wealth of the world or its enchantment flatter us into silence as to your truth.
Do not permit the powerful, or judges, to keep us from professing what is right. Amen.
I could conclude my sermon with that. This prayer says it all. Where and how we are called to be church and disciples in the world. But as I cannot end my sermon just now, Rachel Evans could not end her book with this prayer.
Rachel continued to share this story under the quote of Frederick Buechner: “If you want to be holy, be kind.”
For as long as anyone could remember, the ceremonial foot washing had taken place at the grand basilica of St. John as part of the Holy Thursday Mass. The pope would choose twelve priests and in remembrance of Jesus act of service to his disciples, wash the priest’s feet.
But in 2013, just ten days after his election, Pope Francis stunned the world and broke with tradition be traveling to a juvenile detention center outside of Rome, where he washed and kissed the feet of twelve prisoners, including two women and two Muslims.
Of course, there was a reaction and a response. Angst or even anger from the established Catholic Church, but Pope Francis had reminded the Catholic church, the world and us as Christians, that when Jesus washed the feet of his friends, it was an act of humility and love directed toward ordinary people, not merely a ceremony. If washing of the feet back when Jesus did it was surprising then, why shouldn’t it be surprising now?
When Jesus washed his disciple’s feet, he was showing them what true leadership is. The disciples had argued long and hard about leadership, who was greatest, who should have the best seats – and Jesus had taught then to serve like him. And he told them “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
Ultimately, we all share the same calling. Whenever we show others the goodness of God, whenever we follow Jesus as our teacher imitating his humble service and mind, our actions are more than our own actions, they are shared and sacred.
“If you want to be holy, be kind.”
It is hard to be holy and according to danish poet Benny Andersen it is even harder to be kind. In his sarcastic and subtle poem “Goodness” he writes:
“I have always tried to be good
It is very demanding
But it is so hard to offer yourself up when someone is watching
So hard to be good for an extended period
But with daily training
I’m now up to an hour
If I’m not disturbed
I sit all alone
With the clock in front of me
Spread out my arms
Again and again
It’s no problem at all
I’m actually best when I’m all alone.
-----------------
The Gospel today is all about not be alone or by yourself. It is all about movement and actions. Jesus went to villages and cities, teaching and curing. He met people, where they lived, with compassion – and he send out his flock of disciples to do the same. Simon Peter, Andrew, John Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddeus, Simon, and Judas.
As you have received, so you should give, he tells them.
If you want to be holy, be present, be kind and be attentive. Be in the world, be among people, touch the lives of people with you hand and your heart. Proclaim the good news, share the Gospel, and have compassion. Be a good laborer in the harvest.
The Lutheran Church began as a reforming movement within the Roman Catholic church. Martin Luther never set out to establish a new church, but to reform the existing church, as he believed that the church must be semper reformanda, always reforming. It would be tragic if the Lutheran Church, our church body, born as an agent of change, were to resist change. If we do not embrace our time, adjust and change, we will simply end as a dusted museum piece in the religious history of the American People. Historian will say there was once upon a time a fine Danish Immigrant church whose founding people came from Europe, bringing with them their faith as Lutheran Christians, but they could not adapt to a changing diverse and pluralistic culture. Not meaning we are not keeping focus on what is Christian and Lutheran and even Danish - but always in the context of our current times and challenges, so we are and act in the world.
Where are we going and how?
There is a quote by Maya Angelou:
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better!”
These past month of COVID19 pandemic that is still roaming even if it seems to be missing in the news. We are now over 117.000 deaths in US and over 2 mill. Cases confirmed. So, it is still our reality and our responsibility to keep distance, to wear mask and be caring neighbors.
These past weeks of demonstration, protest and unrest is still our reality and responsibility too. And it is our task to guide the way, lead the way and do better.
In the midst of a pandemic that reminds us how fragile we are and how human connected we are, and in the midst of demonstration against racism and discrimination that reminds us how unjust and divided we still are – in the midst of all of this which is our reality of June 2020, we need to do our best. We need to act. We need to speak. We need to do our best to encourage conversations, build bridges over divides, tear down walls of separation and discriminations, and remember that we as a church, as disciples and as Christian are send as laborer into the world: to share the good news, to baptize, to heal, to build up, to reconcile, to have compassion, and to walk humbly with God.
So, let me conclude the sermon with the prayer from Rachel Evans book: “Searching Sundays”
“God, go with us.
Help us to be an honor to the church.
Give us the grace to follow Christ’s word,
To be clear in our task and careful in our speech.
Give us open hands and joyful hearts.
Let Christ be on our lips.
May our lives reflect a love of truth and compassion.
Let no one come to us and go away sad.
May we offer hope to the poor, and solace to the disheartened.
Let us so living seeds, words that are quick with life, that faith may be the harvest in people’s heats.
In word and in example let your light shine
In the dark like the morning star.
Do not allow the wealth of the world or its enchantment flatter us into silence as to your truth.
Do not permit the powerful, or judges, to keep us from professing what is right.
Amen.
AMEN.