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Sermon November 20, 2022
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, MSW
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen’s
Last Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 29, Track 2
https://lectionarypage.net/YearC_RCL/Pentecost/CProp29_RCL.html
Audio: /documents/Eucharist__November_20__2022
Video: https://youtu.be/uxlgc9lmsKY
And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Luke 23:41-42
Please be seated.
This past week I attended a 1 ½ day conference in Harrisburg sponsored by the Church Pension Group. The conference was filled with lots of information about wellness in all its aspects – physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial.
One of the presenters, a clergyperson and mental health counselor, spoke about the science of epigenetics and I was reminded of this science and the work of Margaret Wheatley.
I’m not sure if you are familiar with the science of epigenetics. Scientists are discovering that while our genetic code or basic DNA does not change, experiences we have alter how our genetic code is expressed.
There was a study conducted with mice in 2013 and reported in the December issue of Nature magazine (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fearful-memories-passed-down/) that showed how fearful memories were passed down to future generations. The first generation of mice were given a foot shock along with the odor of acetophenone. Subsequent generations of the mice reacted negatively to the odor, even though they had never been shocked in the foot. Scientists discovered that while the foundational DNA had not changed, the subsequent generations of mice had increased sensitivity to the odor in the gene responsible for that function.
Our experiences and interactions with each other affect future generations in ways we are only beginning to understand, especially when our interactions with each other have been traumatic.
I first heard about epigenetics from reading the work and going to workshops and webinars with the author and education, Margaret Wheatley. One year when I needed to change directions in my work life, Margaret Wheatley’s name kept popping up in the oddest places. I try to pay attention when I hear about someone over and over again in a variety of circumstances.
Margaret Wheatley is an expert in how organizations can function and work well. Her work at least initially was grounded in the physics of chaos theory – an organization needs a set of agreed-upon bottom lines and then needs to let there be room for lots of innovation and creativity. It may all look at bit chaotic, but chaos always organizes itself.
In one of the last books of hers that I read, written in the earlier part of this century, she spoke about letting go of trying to change the world…of any big plans towards doing so. Instead, she was focusing on the here and now and all of her interactions and relationships. That was because she was seeing how all of our actions and interactions today affect the future in profound ways. How we interact with each other and other people has ramifications for the future as we know from epigenetics.
Also, what happened in the past has affected how we interact with each other today! Personal and systemic interactions change the genetic code that is passed down. Without having the same experiences as our forebears, we still bear and continue some of their behaviors, often without being fully conscious of it.
In our Gospel today, we hear about Jesus’ crucifixion. The focus is on the two thieves who were also crucified with him. The one thief blames Jesus in a way for not getting them out of this horrible and shameful death. The other thief, though, acknowledges his guilt and that he has done something wrong, so some sort of punishment was deserved. That thief confesses and asks Jesus to remember him when Jesus comes into his kingdom, a kingdom not of this world.
We hear confession and forgiveness and a promise of paradise as a result.
Our behavior and interactions with each other have consequences. When we can look at our lives honestly and confess where we haven’t loved our neighbors as ourselves, our behavior changes. I’d say we become more humble, and compassionate and caring and loving towards each other. Our kindness, love, care and compassion radiate to those around us. It changes how those around us feel about themselves and about the world. It has the power to do so much good.
Let us be always mindful of how we interact and impact others and our world, so that we too, may be remembered by Jesus and be with him in paradise.
Amen
