4 Easter The Rev. Nancy E. Gossling John 10:1-10 Psalm 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd *
therefore can I lack nothing.
2 He shall feed me in a green pasture *
and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.
3 He shall convert my soul *
and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil *
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
5 Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me *
thou hast anointed my head with oil, and my cup shall be full.
6 But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
In times like these, we look for comfort. In a variety of places, people, and powers. One friend gets a chocolate milkshake for lunch every day because of her anxiety around multiple medical tests that have covered the span of many months. Waiting for the results of this or that test, she’s also waiting for the shoe to drop, or the death bell to toll. I’ve learned that there’s no comforting her with my empty words and positive “cheer up” platitudes. Even the “tough love” of bootstraps and “big girl pants” haven’t worked. I resort to silence.
And then there’s the political junkie, either on the far right or the far left, who cannot or will not stop looking at their news feeds or following the latest update on the war or the scandal or the crime. Swallowing the latest outrage, hook line and sinker, they open their mouths only to spew hate, disgust, and judgment. Who is to condemn or even comfort these people without adding our own voices to the steady streams that pass through these valleys of death. There are no waters of comfort, nor green pastures in which to lie down. Only lies, shadows of darkness, fear, and evil.
Distractions can be helpful at times like these, but the Boston sports’ teams haven’t helped. Head coach Mike Vrabel’s infidelity has become a major distraction for Patriots fans, distractions the coach has previously told his team to avoid. The Red Sox team is embarrassingly bad in their opening games and have even become a topic of conversation about immigration in our country. And as for my beloved Celtics, always a welcome distraction for me, the loss at home to the Philadelphia Sixers moved my playoff confidence in them to some shaky anxiety. I offer words of comfort to myself by listening to professionals who assure me that all is not lost and the Celtics will surely win the Eastern Conference title if not possibly the whole shebang. Friday night’s win helped!
I attended the memorial service for a neighbor of mine recently, and will miss the memorial service of a previous church member next week. My neighbor died at the ripe old age of 89 and the church lady was only 88. Given the news and the end-of-life possibilities fresh on my mind and often in my face, I’ve been looking for comfort; and yet my previous “go-to’s” have brought no comfort at all. I was casting widely for good news that even Easter morning didn’t assuage. Violence breaks our peace and there’s no comfort to be found.
So I had lunch with a deeply faithful and trusted colleague. After catching up on personal and professional news, I confessed my struggle. After some silence, he mentioned two pillars of the Christian faith, Richard Rohr and Barbara Brown Taylor. After lunch he sent me links to one of Rohr’s sermons and Brown’s substack. In her substack entitled “Coming Down to Earth” she wrote, “There is a portal right here on earth that opens every single day with a little breeze of solace coming through, a little slant of light shining on some beauty you might otherwise have missed. That’s where I want to meet you in this column.” And in his sermon about salvation and the True Self, Rohr claims, “You can’t get there. You fall there.” The fall is not original sin but an updraft.
I recalled books that each of them had written decades ago, and so I pulled both of them down from my bookshelves: Rohr’s “Falling Upward” and Brown’s “When God is Silent.” Funny how their words ring true both then and now. Some eternal truths never change.Their spiritual wisdom provided me with some comfort. Daily doses of the Spirit can bring “breezes of solace” and “little slants of light.” When I fall upward it’s because of God’s action, not mine.
Brother Curtis, a monk at SSJE and another deeply faithful and trusted colleague, had written a daily meditation that also captured my attention recently. In “Brother, Give us a Word” he wrote, “Suffering visits us, as does joy. Joy is a gift. There’s no need to wait for all to be well to experience the gift of joy. Joy is an elixir which God readily dispenses. If your heart is already broken open by suffering, it is also broken open to know joy.” Now here were words of comfort for me once again.
So, I continue my journey through the valley of the shadow of death, no longer looking for easy remedies. When God seems silent, I’ll wait patiently knowing that God has set a table before me, a feast of well-aged wines and good food in God’s house that has more than enough rooms for all of us. Anointed with vitamin-e oil on my face, I shall trust that my Good Shepherd has his staff ready to steady me and a compass to point me in the right direction. Not only will his “loving-kindness and mercy follow me all the days of my life” he will lead me to green pastures and rivers of grace. I don’t have to “do” anything except walk silently with my companion, one step at a time, one day at a time.
Conversion happens in a variety of ways. Those who have experienced A-fibs of the heart are returned to health with an oblation procedure that offers comfort for those who fear they may lose their lives before they’re ready. Conversion therapies are both supported and criticized by people who struggle with their gender identity. Conversion of the soul is a whole ‘nother thing. The psalmist promises that the Good Shepherd will “convert my soul and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name’s sake.”
I find comfort in reading the psalms and in the old testament prophets like Isaiah who pleaded with God, “Comfort, comfort my people.” “This phrase marks a significant shift in the book of Isaiah, moving from themes of judgment to themes of consolation and hope. The repetition of "comfort" emphasizes the depth of God's compassion and the certainty of His promise. Historically, this message was directed to the Israelites during their Babylonian exile, a period of great suffering and longing for deliverance. Theologically, it reflects God's enduring covenant with His people, despite their disobedience. This comfort is not just emotional but is rooted in the assurance of God's future actions. The call to comfort is also seen as a foreshadowing of the coming of Jesus Christ, who is the ultimate source of comfort and salvation for humanity, as seen in the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 11:28-30).” (Bible Hub)
Today, I will pray and trust God to convert my soul from suffering and fear into faith and joy, as I silently fall upward into God’s presence.
