Yogi, Yom Kippur and the Ponftiff - oh my!

Yesterday and today (9/22 &23) have been noteworthy days for both joyous and sad reasons.  I learned this morning that Phyllis Tickle, a prominent voice in emergent church theology and a devoted Episcopalian, died yesterday morning from lung cancer.  Her death (like all deaths) is sad as we have lost an amazing, faithful woman who offered a beautiful vision of the future of Christianity as we face a dynamic cultural shift.  Her death (like all deaths) is joyous as she is now part of the great cloud of witness at God’s banquet table.  She will be missed, but her work and spirit will live on, I have no doubt.
It was also sad news to hear that baseball great Yogi Berra died this morning.  While I am not a big sports fan, it is almost impossible to not know who Yogi Berra was and the great quotes he was known for.  “It ain’t over till it’s over.” “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”  In an odd way, I think Phyllis Tickle and Yogi Berra could have had a wonderful conversation about the Church!  And maybe they are.
Meanwhile, our Jewish brothers and sisters are commemorating their day of atonement, known as Yom Kippur.  It is the most holy of Jewish holidays and offers the opportunity for the community to repent of their sins, known and unknown, and be in right relationship with each other, God and the world.  It is a day of fasting and prayer, honesty and healing.  It is a tradition that Christians follow as well in our observances during Lent and Holy Week, and I offer my prayers on behalf of the persecution that the Jewish community has suffered from Christians who thought Jews needed to be eradicated.  May God teach us to live in harmony.
And if all of this was not enough, Pope Francis has begun is visitation to the United States with an official welcome at the White House this morning.  Fortunately God provided a gorgeous day for our American liturgy to take place.  Amid the flags and trumpets, the orchestrated movements of Pontiff and President was dignified and respectful.  The speeches touched on religious freedom while noting our need to heed God’s call to love our neighbor, especially those in greatest need – immigrants, refuges and the poor.  In our highly radicalized political atmosphere, it was a blessing that the Pope addressed climate change as a real and moral issue. 
Pope Francis inspires me in a way no other Pope has.  While I still disagree with much of the Roman Catholic doctrine, it is refreshing to witness a man who is truly humble and willing to get dirty with the poor.  He knows what it means to be marginalized and calls us to remember that that is where Jesus ministered and where his message took root, not in the palaces and state houses of his day. 
These events share the reality of our world – there are times for both great joy and sadness, repentance and reconciliation each day.  We can try to separate them, but a more truthful picture is to see them as part of the whole human experience and live in the tension that they show us.  It is in that tension that we meet and know Jesus, share in his life and mission, and teach a world in such need how to love.
In Christ,

Rev. Valerie+

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Give God the Glory

Reflections on Chapters 12-14 of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles Years ago, I had a grandparent chargingly ask me if it was OK for her to be proud of her granddaughter, because she had been taught, “Pride goeth before the fall.”   I assured her that being proud of her grandchild was not a sin when the feeling was offered in thanksgiving of the accomplishment and not boosting up one’s own ego. “Look at what I have done,” has been the down fall of many people because they neglect or forget those that helped them achieve their goals. The Book of Acts shares story after story of the importance of acknowledging that all power and might comes from God, to whom we should offer our thanks and praise.   When our egos take over and we congratulate only ourselves for what we have done, we become idolatrous. Chapter 12 records an terrible story of King Herod’s response to the apostles.   He outright kills James and then arrests Peter, who is guarded by over 30 men....
Read more

Good Lord, Deliver Us

Today is the “Hallmark Holiday” Valentine’s Day.  Some of us will mark the occasion by wearing red or remembering at the last minute to buy a card or flowers of one’s beloved.  But my thoughts and prayers are with the 17 families of Parkland, Florida who mark today as the first anniversary of living without a loved one who was killed in a shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.  It seems hard to believe a year has past since that awful day, which also happened to be Ash Wednesday.   Due to that fact, I was not as “plugged-in” that day and only got snippets of information between services.   As the details emerged, it was tragic and heartbreaking, taking on a surreal shimmer as most unthinkable acts do. Unfortunately, it was quite real, and the aftermath will be felt forever. I don’t know any of the victims, however I feel a connection to Carmen Schentrup, who was a 16 (almost 17) year old senior with big plans. She was also Episcopalian. ...
Read more

Transformation

Reflections on Chapters 9-11 of the Acts of the Apostles A little over a year ago, on the Feast of St. Paul’s Conversion (January 25), I wrote a blog post entitled “People Don’t Change – Until They Do.”   In our cynical world, too often we dismiss the idea that transformation can be a reality: that a criminal can be rehabilitated; an addict can remain in recovery, a “sinner” can become a “saint.” It is true that, being human, many of us fall short of complete change (I’ve lost and gained the same 40-50 lbs. many times in my life). However, such skepticism neglects the power of the Holy Spirit at work in peoples lives.   As we continue to read through the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, an essential art of what the author is sharing with us are amazing stories of such radical transformation that the only thing that can account for it is the Holy Spirit. And it begins with Saul.   He is the perfect villain in the story of the apostles.   No one was more opp...
Read more