Could all of this just be about words? Over the last five Sundays we have listened to Jesus’ words about being the bread of life and the words becoming increasingly literal in describing sharing in Jesus’ flesh and blood. Words that so offend people, religious authorities, but also Jesus’ own followers, that today we hear some of them turn back and no longer follow Jesus, because of Jesus’ words. And Jesus asks those who are left if they too want to go away? And we heard Peter’s words in response, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” And can we almost hear Peter adding very quietly or only to himself, “as difficult as your words are.” Did we hear Peter’s words? You have the words of eternal life, you, the Holy One of God. Those are quite the words. Is that what all this is about, words, difficult words from the Holy One of Spirit and life? Words to hear and share for life, for us, for all, forever?
I was at a small gathering of colleagues from UVic Multifaith on Monday, a gathering I admit I almost forgot. Having just returned the night before from a wonderful week with the whole family and getting resettled at home, I forgot this planned farewell for me, until someone called and asked if I was coming! I got there quickly and ate while others had dessert. When asked if I would like some kind of farewell gathering, I said, “any excuse to get this group of Multifaith Spiritual Care Providers and others connected to the Centre together is good.” And despite my being late, it was. And there were good words shared. I would typically say, “very kind words,” but I have been corrected to not say “kind,” as in people are not “just being kind” by their words. They are offering their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation and to receive that graciously. And so I am working at acknowledging with thanks people’s gracious words – which I also still think are kind. And what was so significant to me about the words that were shared, is we are, in all our diversity in background and spiritual and cultural traditions, a community, a community of colleagues in shared work and purpose together.
As one colleague said, no matter how significant the differences between people - culture, language, practise, belief, sometimes you meet a person and you feel a close connection, and you say to yourself, I want to spend more time with them, so I can be more like them. Those were very gracious and kind words as were many others. And so also I hope, words I needed to share with them, about how much I have valued my relationships with each of them, and how indebted I am to them for what I have learned from and with them, for their commitment and time at the university that in many cases far exceeded what I could offer, and for the good and common work of caring for and supporting and encouraging and learning from and celebrating the students and the whole campus community in work and friendship and struggle and joy together. Good words were shared that were Spirit and life-giving.
The first reading today is a patch-work describing the arrival of the Arc of God in the new temple and Solomon’s prayer of dedication of the temple, that he acknowledges could never contain God, but prays that God would always hear the prayers and the pleas of this place, and “heed and forgive.” And then Solomon’s equally amazing words, that God would also hear the prayers of anyone not of the people of Israel toward this house of God, and to do as they ask, so that all the peoples of the earth may know God’s name and honour God. What powerful and expansive words of prayer these are, for gracious inclusion of all - Spirit and life-giving words for us to hear.
And so also the Psalm response, “How dear to me is your dwelling, O God of hosts! My soul desires and longs for the courts of God, my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young, by the side of your altars, O God of hosts… Happy are they who dwell in your house! They will always be praising you.” A house of God not only for God’s people but for all God’s creatures and all creation, that all would praise and rejoice in the God of hosts. What Spirit and life-giving words for the place and wellbeing of all and all creation.
And I can’t help at today’s joint worship of St. Luke Anglican and Lutheran Church of the Cross, to reflect a little on my 22 years of experiencing the full communion relationship of our two congregations that began before I arrived and before the official words of Full Communion in the Waterloo Declaration that were adopted by our two national churches in 2001 and that includes the Episcopal and the ELCA in the US and now the Moravian Church as well, a protestant group connected originally to John Huss, and a reformation church that began 60 years before the Lutheran Reformation and 100 years before the Anglican Church and all the words we have shared together.
This local relationship began with joint worship, possibly the first Advent worship, and has led to a growing relationship with many expressions of our full communion partnership together over the years: First Sunday of Advent liturgy of readings and songs with joint choirs; Epiphany Festival worship, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, Passion/Palm Sunday, Easter Vigil gatherings; weekend congregational retreats; partnership in the Shelbourne Community Kitchen; partnership in Fall Suppers; a children’s day camp for over ten years, joint planning meetings of congregational leaders; weekly/monthly shared communication of parish programs; regular meetings of the pastors and priest, partnership in a larger ecumenical ministerial with shared programs in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and Lent/Epiphany series. Rev. Daniel as a non-voting member of the Church of the Cross Call Committee, and for the last three plus years, cross appointment of one non-voting member on each Church Council; and more, and more that is possible.
It is quite the list, quite a partnership and friendship. Activities of worshipping and working together, common words of declaration and words of life that we gather around to hear. Words of great significance, words in Christ Jesus of eternal life. And recognition that some are just different words, like Anglican/Lutheran, pastor/priest, Eucharist/Holy Communion, and truth be told a lot of Anglican words I still don’t know, but which don’t divide us. I wonder how many of us recall words together that are significant, from warm greetings, to shared support, to prayers and encouragement during challenging times, words of grace and good news, and how much these words of full communion and their expression have meant and continue mean to us – Spirit and life-giving words together.
Is all of this, just words? In one sense, the response is, yes! The Word who is Christ, and Jesus’ words, including those that are difficult, are at the heart of who we are together as followers of Jesus. Sacred words of scripture, of liturgy and song, around the font and table, of proclamation and prayer, Jesus’ Spirit and life-giving words of eternal life. And gracious and kind words between us, and with and for others, of love and encouragement, comfort and consolation, justice and peace, challenge and radical change, new visions and imaginings, that are equally Spirit and life-giving words of Christ to one another. How important, how significant, how central are all these words that we share. But necessarily not words alone. But Jesus’ words embodied. In acts of love and compassion and justice and peacemaking, in everyday acts of care and kindness, and at times radical actions together for a better world and the inclusion and interconnectedness of all God’s beloved and diverse children together with all creation. Spirit and life-giving words of Jesus to hear and speak and embody for God’s love of this hurting world. Words and teaching that can be difficult and offend. Who can accept it, and not turn away or believe it? Do you also wish to go away?
With Peter and those first followers, and the ancestors and saints after, we are here together by God’s gracious compelling, to profess the good and gracious words, “Jesus, to whom can we go, you have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” Let it be so, in all our words and actions, and in all our relations. Amen.
