Peace

 Church of the Redeemer, Chestnut Hill   The Rev. Nancy E. Gossling

I have to be honest, it was a difficult month of April for me. One week before Holy Week, I lost three special people in my life for various reasons. After Easter, I tested positive for COVID 19, and although my symptoms were mild, and I was given antiviral medication, I still felt a little uneasy. Struggling with feelings of sadness, I cried easily, triggered by memories and visible signs of those I loved and lost. 

And then there is Ukraine, and the violence and destruction that has leveled their country and their people for many months. There has been gun violence in Buffalo against people of color, in Los Angeles against Taiwanese Christians, and the single murder of a young woman from Vermont in Texas, who was preparing for a cycling event. Anxiety simmered on my stove. Fear fueled my anger. Doubts crept into the corners of my mind. And I kept looking for Easter joy and signs of hope.

We live with chronic uncertainty, often exaggerated by the news. We feel vulnerable to forces outside of our control when guns and bombs kill innocent people. At times, we may feel a need for deep protection, and not just from masks and vaccinations, but from things that diminish our bodies, break our hearts, and chip away at our souls. 

As much as I try to stay plugged into the news, both locally and globally, and to be responsibly informed about current affairs, occasionally I just get fed up or feel overwhelmed. Switching to various channels, seeking different perspectives and fresh insights, looking for signs of hope and Easter joy, I often hear the “same old stuff.” Garbage is circulated like a bad HVAC system. I hear demagoguery and deceit. I am horrified by the labels we paste on each other, and the hate crimes and violence that surfaces in our homes, our cities, our country, and around our world.

In the names of Allah, Yahweh, Jesus, and justice we have waged war. As one resident in Buffalo recently said, “You can’t even go to the damn store in peace.” We protest and picket, sometimes nonviolently, demanding actions while raising questions. “Whose life are we talking about anyway? Is this a moral, legal, medical, religious, socio-economic, or political issue? And who gets to decide? Who will advocate for us when we have no voice and no power? And what really is the right thing to do?”

We long for peace. Earlier in the book of Revelation, the author mentions various things that destroy our peace. They are anger, resentment, having no boundaries, adultery, idolatry, refusing to repent, chaos, killing the innocent, powers beyond our control, a “conquer” mentality, and inflexibility. Or in the words of the Redeemer’s rector, “The seeds of hate are sown in the soil of isolation, watered by hopelessness, and fertilized by anger, cruelty, and hate.” While peace starts within each and every individual soul and radiates outward, community is important. Prayer is a good place to start “not as a substitute for taking action,” wrote Bishop Sean Rowe from Buffalo, “but preparing to do so.”

Now western Christianity tends to emphasize, “our Father in heaven” from whom Jesus came and to whom Jesus was going. Or we focus on Jesus, who claims that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. But we do so at the expense of the 3rd person of the Trinity. And She is not happy about being ignored! Using gender free language, we affirm our God who is the Creator of all people and the Redeemer of all creation. The Holy Spirit is our heavenly dove, who carries an olive branch of peace over our rough sea waters.

Rowan Williams, previous archbishop of Canterbury said, “Eastern theology perhaps helps us to think of the Holy Spirit less as an afterthought. Especially during fractious, and fracturing times, looking east can free us from our anxiety or (feeling) panicked and overstretched in the Christian west.” (Timothy Jones interviews Rowan Williams) In the words of St. Paul and Jesus, the Holy Spirit can help us to pray in our weakness with sighs too deep for words and this Advocate will bring us a peace that the world cannot give. (Romans 8:26, John 14:23-29)

Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Advocate, and the word Advocate means to “call to” or to “speak for.” God is our Holy Advocate who speaks the truth, teaches us, and reminds us of what Jesus said and did.This Advocate guides us along right pathways, leads us not into temptation, and comforts us in our anxiety. She is our companion on the journey, a friend by our side, and an aide who listens to our woes, wipes away our tears, and shares Her Love. She calls us to prayer and action.

Peace never means the absence of trouble, but usually arrives in the midst of it, when everyone is exhausted, and horrified by the casualties that surround us. Peace doesn't come with simple words, legal decisions, or the absence of action. When we fight for peace, we don’t just “stand down”, walk away, and keep silent, especially when vulnerable people are at risk. We face the conflicts and become small “a” advocates in both our words and our deeds, sometimes in very different ways. We continually listen to the capital “A” Advocate for wisdom and truth. 

In a fable called “The Friendly Forest”, the late Rabbi Edwin Friedman wrote these words: “Once upon a time in the Friendly Forest there lived a lamb who loved to graze and frolic about. One day a tiger came to the forest and said to the animals, “I would like to live among you.” They were delighted. The lamb, however, had some apprehensions, which being a lamb, she sheepishly expressed to her friends. But, they said, “Do not worry, we will talk to the tiger and explain that one of the conditions for living in this forest is that you must also let the other animals live in the forest as well.”

“So the lamb went about her life as usual. But it was not long before the tiger began to growl and make threatening gestures and menacing motions. Each time the frightened lamb went to her friends and said, ‘It is very uncomfortable for me here in the forest’ but her friends reassured her. ‘Do not worry; that’s just the way tigers behave.’”

“Every day as the lamb went about her life, she tried to remember this advice, hoping that the tiger would find someone else to growl at. So the lamb tried to put the tiger out of her mind. ‘Why should I let my relationship with just one member of the forest ruin my relationship with all the others?’ she said to herself. But every now and then, usually when she was least prepared, the tiger would give her another start.”

“Finally the lamb could not take it anymore. She decided that, much as she loved the forest and her friends, the cost was too great. So she went to the other animals in the woods and said goodbye.”

“Her friends would not hear of it.’This is silly,’ they said. ‘Nothing has happened to you. You’re still in one piece. You must remember that a tiger is a tiger,’ they repeated. ‘Surely this is the nicest forest in the world; and we would be very sad if you left.’”

“Then, two of the animals in the Friendly Forest said, ‘Surely this whole thing can be worked out. We’re all reasonable animals here. So stay calm. There is probably just some misunderstanding that can easily be resolved if we all sit down together and communicate.’” 

“The lamb, however, had several misgivings about such a meeting. First of all, if it was simply a tiger’s nature to behave that way, why did they think that communication would change that nature? Such meetings, well intentioned as they may be, usually try to solve problems through compromise. Now, while the tiger might agree to growl less, and reduce some aggressive behavior, what would she, the lamb, be expected to give up in return? Be more accepting of the tiger’s growling? There was something wrong, she thought, with the notion that an agreement is equal if the invasive creature agrees to be less invasive and the invaded one agrees to tolerate some invasiveness.”

“Her friends assured her that the most important thing was to keep communicating. ‘Don’t be so sheepish,’ they said.’ Speak up when the tiger does these things.’ But then one of the less subtle animals in the forest, more uncouth in expression and unconcerned about just who remained, was overheard to remark, ‘I never heard of anything so ridiculous. If you want a lamb and a tiger to live in the same forest, you don’t try to make them communicate. You just cage the bloody tiger.’”

In the book of Revelation, John had a vision of the heavenly city where nothing unclean can enter, nothing accursed will be found, and whose gates will never be shut. At its center is the Lamb of God, who sits on the throne with His heavenly Father. The Holy Spirit, our Advocate, sits peacefully by their sides. 

This city is a place where the tree of life stands tall and its leaves are for the healing of our nations.This is a Friendly Forest where all God’s creation is finally at peace, and where the tiger and lamb lie down together. There is no growling. There is no fear. 

 Yes, the world will not give us that peace that is everlasting but God surely will. God’s peace is not a temporary truce; but rather it is a part of God’s covenant which cannot be broken. In that promise, we can certainly find some signs of hope and Easter joy.

Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5

John 14:23-29

Drama

4 Easter, May 8, 2022

The Rev. Nancy E. Gossling

Church of the Redeemer, Chestnut Hill 

Today we celebrate the Easter season on this 4th Sunday after the Resurrection. And an “enthusiastic” Sunday School teacher once asked her class of 4 year olds this question: Does anyone know what makes Easter so special? Quickly, a little girl raised her hand and responded, ‘Yes, because Jesus rose from the grave.’ But before the teacher could congratulate her, the little girl added, ‘And if he doesn’t see his shadow, he has to go back in for 7 more weeks.’”

Now we have many questions at all ages about our faith, not to mention about our political, social, healthcare, and economic systems. Drama and suspense have been playing out in our news for many weeks, in fact for many years. Even today, I wondered in my own little drama if Mike would be available to preach this morning. My emotions, like the stock market, have gone up and down with various events. 

While I believe that life is a blessing and a precious gift from God, at times like these, it can seem like an ordeal. I want the groundhog days of violence, controversy, pandemics, and conflict to be over. Shedding my winter blues like the COVID virus, I want sunlight, fresh air, puppy dogs, and butterflies to fill my days. I don’t think I’m alone in my desire for some answers to the suspense in our lives. Like most, I want good resolutions to our conflicts. I want justice and peace without controversy. I want health care for all. And please, no more drama.

“How long will you keep us in suspense?” they asked Jesus as he walked in the temple. Drama was just as prevalent then as it is now. Whether in real life or in fiction, drama often reveals our issues, our concerns, and expresses the heights and depths of our emotions. Occasionally, we will ask the courts to help us. And on this cultural holiday we call Mother’s day, the possible Supreme Court opinion on Roe vs. Wade hangs in the air. The courts of public opinion have been very loud.

Who will save us from the wages of sin and death, from war and violence, we wonder? “How long will you keep us in suspense?” the Jews asked Jesus. “If you are the Messiah, then tell us plainly.” Like us today, they also wanted some answers, an end to the drama in their divided country, and some hope for their days to come.

On my refrigerator door there is a magnet that repeats the words of Winston Churchill, “Never, never, never give up!” Now I’m not sure that these words are always the best course of action in some circumstances, but I do believe they offer us wise counsel for our faith journeys. These words have been incarnated by the Ukrainian people in general and their president in particular. They are words that echo throughout our scripture stories, giving us hope for our future, and encouragement for our lives. 

We all find various ways to manage the suspense of our own unfolding dramas; and my husband and I choose very different movies and activities for the very same reasons. We both want to know that the good guys will win in the end, and that the Celtics will win the NBA title. We want the economy to boom, our lives to have meaning, and certain people to sit down and be quiet. Present company excluded.

Whereas my husband Paul can watch the drama of these events unfold; I cannot. Truth be told, I don’t like suspense, so I often choose movies and books that I know will have happy endings. I want that blessed assurance that everything turns out alright. I want the joy of the Easter season to last forever; and today’s passage from Revelation tells me that it will.

I remember a retreat that I attended called “Waiting in the Dark” that Brother Luke offered at SSJE. In the silence, the noise around me and inside of me became hushed for a little while, and I could hear God’s voice in that echo chamber. Brother Luke gave us some clay and invited us to pray without words. “When it is hard to pray, it is a way to quiet the mind, a way to let go and be surprised, a way to listen to God with our bodies,” Brother Luke said. 

Alone in my room, I put down my monkey mind and picked up the clay. At first, I felt the strong resistance of my will. The clay was cold and hard to manipulate; pieces broke and crumbled in my palm. I began to slowly restore the clay, patching it back together into one piece. Then angrily I pounded the clay to flatten it, realizing how the weight of sin and sickness, sorrow and suffering, death and dark times can take the fizz out of our souls, the sparkle out of our eyes, and the bounce out of our steps. 

Next, rolling my pancake of clay into various sizes and shapes, I felt my spirit soften in the hands of God. I laughed at the images I created. There were trumpets and basketballs. There were Easter eggs and Mothers’ day flowers. Joy and light began to seep back into the cracks in my soul. This is creation and re-creation, I thought to myself, remembering that I am a clay vessel in the hands of God, whose breath of life-giving spirit I have received. Eventually filled with a peace that surpasses all understanding, I put the clay back into the little baggie and wiped my hands clean.

Saint Francois de Sales reminded me, “Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life; rather look to them with hope, that as they arise, God, whose very own you are, will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will carry you in His arms.” Like the Good Shepherd who left 99 sheep to find the one that was lost, God will find us, toss us over God’s shoulders, and carry us home. 

Charles Swindoll once wrote, “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude to me is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, money, circumstances, failures, successes, and what other people think or do. Attitude will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the attitude that we will embrace.”

We can hold attitudes of gratitude every day; and our Scripture stories remind us that we have a good shepherd who will lead us beside still waters to green pastures and will guide us along right pathways. We can walk with childlike steps as people who trust in the promises and power of God. With generations of people who have come before us and who will live long after us, we can affirm our faith in our God who creates, sustains, and saves us. 

Resurrection begins not only with a capital “R” but also with lower case “r’s”. They are like green sprouts that break through the ground of our beings, as clearly as the flowers that are blooming right now. We can sing Easter songs of hope, offer words of love to one another, and provide simple acts of kindness as people of resurrection faith.

Repeatedly, Jesus reminds us, “Do not be afraid. I am with you always, even to the end of the ages. I will give you eternal life, and you will never perish. And no one will snatch you out of my hand.” Yes, we know that death will eventually come for us all, but how we choose to live today is quite another matter. We can live faithfully, indeed even fearlessly, and never give up. 

"How long will you keep us in suspense?” they asked Jesus. “If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” The answer lies in the last book of the Bible. "Who are these that are robed in white, and where have they come from?" the elders wondered.  And John answered, they are those “who have come out of the great ordeal” from all nations, tribes, peoples, and languages. 

Indeed, they are each and every one of us, for the Lamb at the center of the throne is our Good Shepherd, and he will guide us to the “springs of the water of eternal life and revive our souls. Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever. Amen.”