Loading...Sermon August 13, 2017
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers, LSW
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen, Newport, PA
Tenth Sunday After Pentecost, Track 1 Year A, Proper 14
//lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp14_RCL.html
But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? Romans 10:14
Please be seated.
As you know, the first part of my recent vacation involved taking my grandchildren to some historical sites. One day we went to Mt. Vernon. I think I was there only one other time in my life, when I was about 12. We not only did the house tour, but also did a special tour regarding the lives of people enslaved by George and Martha Washington. That tour ended with a short memorial, including reading about some of the people enslaved there and the laying of a boxwood wreath.
Later that same day, we traveled to Charlottesville, VA. We met Allen Hench and he gave us a great tour of the University of Virginia. We met at the dome and toured that building that was once the library. It had an interesting exhibit about the Declaration of Independence. We walked on the lawn and saw the rooms that are prized by students who are able to live right on that space. We saw where the students walk at graduation. We saw downtown and the pedestrian mall.
Then on Tuesday, we met my cousin and toured Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson high upon the mountain overlooking Charlottesville.
I’m still trying to process it all. The tour at Mt. Vernon spoke about how George Washington’s views about people he enslaved changed over the years with some specific experiences and relationships. George Washington directed that all of the people he enslaved and owned should be freed upon his wife’s death. However, Martha Washington never changed her opinion and believed that the enslavement of people with darker skin was the natural order of things.
And the guide also made it clear, that that labor of enslaved people made it possible for Mr. Washington to do much of his life’s work away from Mt. Vernon, which was an 8,000 acre plantation. The work of enslaved peoples essentially funded and allowed the American Revolution to occur.
I had been to Monticello once before, and remembered the great creativity of Mr. Jefferson. I was mesmerized once again by his inventions, like a copy “machine” or the bed “in the wall” that allowed him to roll out of bed and right into his office. Or the door attachment that allowed him to open the bedroom door without getting out of bed. Or the books on the cases that could easily be detached and taken on a trip. Not to mention his work on The Declaration of Independence when he was only 33 years old.
And yet…and yet…Jefferson also enslaved people. There was the re-creation of the cabin where Sally Hemmings lived. The guide told us that one of the sons of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings was often mistaken for Mr. Jefferson himself. And for hundreds of years, the descendants of Thomas Jefferson and his legal wife denied the truth about Ms. Hemmings and Mr. Jefferson.
In our portion of Paul’s letter to the Romans that we read today, Paul emphasizes that following Jesus Christ is lifesaving. He’s again making the case that when we truly live as Jesus commanded, we will find amazing life. He emphasizes that this new life is available to everyone…yes everyone! The barriers erected by societies to divide people have no place. We are bound together in community as followers of Jesus Christ.
At the same time, we must hear the teaching of Jesus Christ. The end of our reading today sounds like a call to evangelism…to make known the teachings of Jesus Christ…which is important and something we need to do. However, in the verses following, Paul makes it clear that even when people hear, they don’t always hear. That even when people are exposed and know the teachings of Jesus Christ, they don’t always hear those teachings.
I think this past weekend, we’ve seen the truth of that. Because I’d just visited Charlottesville, and because I have family and friends there, I was especially interested in what was happening with the gathering of White supremacists and the counter demonstrations.
Honestly, I was horrified by the video of the torch-lit march on the campus of the University of Virginia on Friday evening. The marchers were chanting “blood and soil,” a reference to racist beliefs reinforced in Nazi Germany about the purity of the blood of some people and support of their rural values.
The marchers were chanting, “you will not replace us.” I found this confusing, but learned it was first stated by white supremacist Richard Spencer back in May at a similar gathering. He said:
“What brings us together is that we are white, we are a people, we will not be replaced," the Washington Post reported.
Then I saw other videos on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Some were from my cousin, who was participating in meditation and gathering at the Quaker Meeting House. She was in her community as a non-violent, peaceful witness. There were many faith groups, who held numerous church services. They received a legal permit to gather in a park, calling it a safe space. They sang about the love of Christ and denounced hatred, bigotry and white supremacy.
As I watched and followed my friends and family, as well as others on the scene, I thought about what each group had heard. Some had clearly heard about Jesus Christ and his teaching to love God and love your neighbor. Others had not heard or maybe had not heeded the message of Jesus Christ. I imagine they might have heard that message somewhere along the way since it’s pretty pervasive in our culture, but they hadn’t listened…they did not take it to heart.
We are a little over four hours away from Charlottesville and it’s easy to turn away from what happened there. It’s easy to say, “that’s the south, but not here” or “I’m not like those white supremacists and at least people from my denomination were there as peaceful, nonviolent witnesses of love rather than hate.”
Yet, what is our responsibility here in Perry and Juniata Counties? What questions should we ask here? For instance, why isn’t there a more diverse group of people living in our counties? Why does Perry County, at least, have a reputation for being unwelcoming to people who are not perceived as white?
We feel badly about racism and yet push it back out of our everyday lives. We feel uncomfortable in talking about it. Some of us might feel powerless to do anything; others of us don’t see a problem.
In many ways, we are like Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Washington. They created documents that proclaim that all are free…that all are created equal. They fought for that right. They heard the teachings of Jesus Christ to love God and love your neighbor. Yet, they also heard the call of the culture of their time – one that enslaved other human beings and murdered the native peoples…that was clearly against the teachings of Jesus Christ.
They heard the teachings of Jesus Christ and yet were pulled back by the culture of their time. Sadly, I think we can identify with them.
May we take Paul’s words to heart. May we redouble our efforts to follow Jesus Christ. Only then will we truly be saved.
Amen
