I speak to you in the name of Source, God, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, mother of us all.
I was going to start a 1-minute sermon by saying, “Well, thanks, Jesus. Got the memo. Received. The end.”
But then I realized that we come to church to be in community, to lift up our hope, to be strengthened in our faith, and to be inspired by a sermon. So, thanks for joining me and Fr. Joseph today, and I will try to give it my best shot!
This morning, I wanted to share a couple of stories that reminded me of the power of hope, and demonstrated faith beyond all measures. During trying times, we can endure in community, while our faith is being tested. You know the saying: sharing is caring!
There is a man named Abraham, from Sudan, now known as South Sudan. He, along with over 35,000 other young boys, as young as six, answered the call to have faith and went on a journey to find a new life for themselves. These so-called “lost boys” were seeking refuge from the pain, the suffering, the violence that sometimes killed their whole family, if not entire villages.
They traveled across three countries — Sudan and Ethiopia —and finally ended up in Kenya. Mile after mile, they walked with purpose to safety. At some point, these lost boys had to cross a river. This river was filled with alligators, and most of these boys couldn’t swim. Many perished. But eventually, one day, they made it to a refugee camp after watching their siblings in Christ suffer through persecution & atrocities. They reached a safe place with thousands of others seeking refuge.
I was recently reminded of this group of boys when I heard once again about the political turmoil in North & South Sudan. I tried to find more information and discovered Abraham’s story. After he arrived at the refugee resettlement area in Kenya, he became the informal minister. He was later one of the 10% chosen to resettle in America around 2001. He resettled in Kansas City and earned his undergrad and seminary degrees. He was one of the few who returned to Sudan and get this….he is now known as Bishop Abraham Nhial (Nile), who serves at the Aweil (A-whale) Diocese of the Episcopal Church of South Sudan. He still visits the states frequently to advocate for conversation on development work in that part of the world.
A second inspiring story I wanted to share with you this morning is about a Holocaust survivor and renowned psychologist, Dr. Edith Edgar. She wrote one of my favorite books called “The Choice,” which explores how we sometimes have choices that help us navigate the challenges we face. Before her mother perished in a gas chamber in Auschwitz, she said, don’t let them take your soul. Don’t let them take your spirit.
Little Edith was a ballet dancer, and so in the middle of this concentration camp, she would sometimes dance for her fellow prisoners and guards. She also recalls that while donating blood for the German military, oftentimes weekly, she would recite to herself, “they will not take my spirit”.
Dr. Egar survived and went on to work in the mental health field after meeting Viktor Frankl. Seh worked at the VA for many years, helping unpack trauma and build resilience. It was when she was in a community that her real healing started while bonding with other survivors.
We know these stories of overcoming and leaning into our faith, and we know that perseverance exists; some of us may have faced something similar.
Sometimes I am frustrated when I hear Jesus’s words… and just want to say, “duh.”. But I have to remember that it helps me to find hope and faith, yes, in others’ stories of determination. But I’m also hopeful for all the people who have walked before us and gone through these trials and tribulations. We’re not new to conflict. We’re not new to Discord.
You know how I know that? Because these words of wisdom are written down for us with the Prophets, through the stories of the Saints…Jesus’ wisdom is telling us right here in today’s Gospel. He says, There will be many that come in my name, there will be many that pave the way to build opulent towers that separate us from God, that separate us from the sunlight of the spirit.” There are still massive temples being built, skyscrapers reaching up to the heavens, our need for mass consumerism losing the true essence of Christmas, golden idols shade us from the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ.
What is also affirming is that Jesus confirmed that there will be many, but have no fear. He says, “I am with you, and as you persevere through all of this, not even a hair on your head will be harmed.” The Gospel reading today is a story of faith and hope that invites us to lean in. Sometimes it helps me understand that Bishop Abraham survived with all the other “Lost Boys”. I didn’t even tell you the best part of his story! In his diocese, he is raising awareness to help support so many different ministries.
Bear with me here, as I share his amazing work: in his corner of the world, he has a nursery school, a primary school, a school for girls, a soccer team, a water well ministry, a sewing ministry, a theology school, and, wait for it, a ministry planting the Moringa (miringa) tree, which provides substance (you can eat parts of this tree for nourishment).
Bishop Abraham said of this tree, “Moringa gives us a new way to grow reconciliation! I am planning a mission to take the blessing of Moringa to two groups that have been in conflict. Not only can Moringa help in our health, but it will also plant seeds of reconciliation between us.”
If that didn’t give you fire in the belly this Sunday, Edith Edgar, a survivor of Auschwitz, was able to finally forgive the Nazi’s, well into adulthood, when she realized her hatred imprisoned her more than when she was in that concentration camp. The power of choice in finding freedom and meaning, even in the darkest circumstances. She has famously said that “forgiveness is truly a gift to give to myself”.
Let me get this straight, if Dr. Edith Edgar can forgive Nazis and find new freedom in herself and in others. Bishop Abaham Nhial can plant trees to feed people spiritually and nourish those who tried to wipe out his village… then maybe we, too, can know that, as Jesus said, I will guide you with the wisdom you need to thrive. He literally forecasted what these two souls went through: “they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify.”
And yet, he continues to remind us, “So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.”
I don’t know about you, but that is a burning bush up in my belly!
But it’s hard, though. Right! Sometimes I feel lost. Sometimes I feel confused about why I am distracted by all this noise, which might be blocking me from God’s will. How can I re-center my attention to more heart-centered discipleship? How can we answer the call for a transformative relationship with ourselves and with one another? What can I let go of that is not serving me well?
How can I be more like Edith and Abraham in their work, turning their love outwards, yes, but they did a lot of work inwardly as well. This is not new. I remember the biblical stories of how we were to persist and to lean into the prophets for their wisdom.
When people went to build their towers tall to reach into the sky and build their decadent kingdoms, and mirages of massive smoke screens, I am reminded that the wisdom we need is here, in the now, in the present moment, within you and me. This freedom that we seek, we find in those who are suffering, in those that are seeking out shelter in our communities. We must not be distracted by some white ivory tower with shiny rhinestones.
This peaceful existence is in the friendship clinic, the friendship meal, and the friendship food truck. This wisdom lies with our ministries in the social justice committee; it lies with all of us who, yes, sometimes struggle to put a smile on our faces today, but who know that love from God’s grace is within us to share and give so freely. So yes, we might come into trials and tribulations, and we might encounter many who speak of the word of God, yet the word of God is very clearly stated. The directions are right here for us to share with all of God’s children, even those that don’t look like us, even those that disagree with us; it is in the here and now. We have a gift, and that gift is knowing God’s love through Jesus’ words of wisdom. Now it’s up to us to persevere, persist, and continue not only to walk the walk, but talk the talk as Dr. Edith and Bishop Abraham have so dutifully shown us the way. Deacon Christina Cernansky