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February 28, Lent 2 Genesis 15: 1-17 I am writing this while snowbound. I certainly hope that by the time I am giving this homily we are again out and about. Our theme this lent is the same as on the retreat and in our Lenten booklet — Encountering Differences/Crossing Boundaries. I have found it interesting and useful to see how those themes resound in my life, in my reading, and in my thinking. As the Lenten homilists talked about the Lenten liturgy, Yonce suggested that we find ways to use something other than words to present the “homily.” I am going to do that by asking several questions, followed by silence. At the end of the homily there will be a time when we might share experiences or thoughts that address those questions. I am passing out cards in case you want to make notes of your thoughts in order to hold them for later. Today I think the lessons provide yet another path to think about this theme. Paul talks about those who are focused on their own lives — following the “god” of self and self-indulgence. He reminds the Christians that they are citizens of heaven and should follow the example of…. (some translations say imitate) … well, there are two interpretations — the most common is follow the example of Paul. But the phrase can be translated as “join with me in following the example of Christ.” Either way, we are to live differently than those who focus on themselves. How do we encounter this type of difference? We would keep our focus on what we know to be true — but in what ways do we cross boundaries to the others? — Silence — In the call to follow Christ’s example, we have a tall order. The Luke lesson shows us a couple of the really hard things. In Luke we hear of Pharisees who came to warn Jesus to leave the area because Herod wanted to kill him. There are cynics who say that was just because they wanted Jesus out of their space. But Jesus doesn’t respond to them that way. Based on other stories in the gospels, we know he was perfectly capable of calling them out if they were being duplicitous. Rather, this story seems to fly in the face of our thinking of all Pharisees as enemies of Jesus, as they defended their “absolutely correct” view of God’s law and their religion. But that would be stereotyping. Not all Pharisees shared the same opinions — some were open-minded and curious about this teacher. Some were even followers of Jesus. In what way do we stereotype other groups as all the same; perhaps all in opposition to what we believe, perhaps in 100 percent support of what we believe? Who are those groups? How do we educate ourselves past the point of stereotyping? How then do we cross the boundaries to honestly and openly encounter individuals in those groups? — Silence — Then Jesus spoke of his love for Jerusalem, even though that was where the prophets were killed. He seemed to know that was also going to happen to him. That is where his enemies were. But he used beautiful imagery to show his love — he wanted to protect and care for the people of Jerusalem as a mother hen protects her chicks. I don’t know how many of you have seen that in action. A hen and chicks are out scratching in the dirt for insects. A hawk flies overhead. When the hen sees the shadow or senses the danger, she has a particular cry — identifiable even to humans — the chicks immediately run for shelter under her wings. Is it possible to have even an inkling of what it would mean to have that kind of love for our enemies? What would that look like? — Silence — I have read two books (mysteries) recently that have as their focus people getting revenge for atrocities that happened years before in Vietnam. The revenge involved murder and kidnapping. An eye for an eye. I have read one book and seen one movie that illustrate the opposite response to horror. The movie was “Invictus,” about the beginning of Nelson Mandela’s time as President of South Africa. He understood the “sameness” of people and how to pull former enemies together. The book is “Strength in What Remains” by Tracy Kidder. This is the story of a young man caught in the Hutu-Tutsi war in Burundi. It tells of the horror he witnessed, his close calls in avoiding that horror, and his ultimate escape from it. After he completes his education in the US, he returns to Burundi to build clinics. Again, he sees the “sameness” in people and is able to transcend what happened to him, his friends and his family to help bring healing to his country. How does this speak to our ability to encounter others and to cross the artificial boundaries that separate us? — Silence — Time for Sharing
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