June 26, 2022
What if Our Resurrection Has Begun Rev. Patricia Wagner Scripture Luke 7: 11-17 Love that song- There is such longing, For the “corner of the sky” Our place in God’s creation. In the great cosmic story. It’s hard to see where this cosmic story is going, isn’t it, At least on this planet, At least in this moment, The preacher at our clergy session Described what a lot of clergy have been experiencing. There have been so many unexpected And worrisome developments, So many changes and disappointing heartbreaks, So many unknowns, that have occurred Over the past few years. For the last weeks, There’s no end in sight. We’re worn out. We’re worn down And we’re not sure what to think about the future. We’re not sure what or who we’re becoming Or if it’s a very good thing at all. Bingo. So, and it that’s what clergy are feeling If that’s maybe what you are feeling, What Christians bring To a whole world that is feeling this way. Let’s see what the founder and perfector of our faith, Has to say to us today. Jesus is in Nain, a town about About six miles from Nazareth, And coming toward him is a funeral procession Of a young man; The only son of a woman Who is also a widow. His death has left her alone, With no status, no means to support herself. Her future is so uncertain. And she is weeping. I want you just to take that in for a moment, That weeping. Hear that in your mind, Let her stand in for someone suffering now. Perhaps for you, Perhaps for a woman, or a man, Anywhere in the world, Ukraine, Ulvalde, Afghanistan We reveal our humanity most plainly In our weeping. At every Annual Conference There is a moment when the bishop is thanked And this year, After the person spoke of all that our bishop Has done this past year, Even as he lost his father to death. The bishop, was so moved by the recognition of all He’s been through He began to weep, and could not stop. And all those watching, felt something within We felt with him, we felt for him. This woman is weeping. And Luke says, Jesus has compassion for her. Compassion, translated from the rare Greek term, splagchnizomai, (splag-ni-zo-mai) meaning that his intestines were torn up. Her situation tears him up inside. Jesus of Nazareth The incarnate presence of God upon this earth, Feels her pain so deeply it hurts. Does this not reveal something: That God hears our weeping, our longing, Knows we are worn out, worn down, Whether we are we are poor widow, or a bishop Or anyone else. The Holy Spirit that resided in Jesus’ heart Felt that woman’s hurt And responded with loving power Jesus touches the funeral bier, On which the young man’s body was placed, And says, Young man I say to you, rise! And the man, sit’s up, Starts talking! And Jesus, says the scripture, Gave him to his mother. And suddenly, says Luke, the people watching were seized with fear, They’d heard that he healed But now he’d raised from death, Which was terrifying and marvelous And news spread, quickly, everywhere. And Jesus knows that it’s a great risk To reveal the power that’s beyond anything Human beings on this earth have ever known That power threatens those who assume They have control of the people of the earth But out of love, out of compassion for Our human condition, Jesus chooses to tear open the fabric between Our time and all time. For while we may think of resurrection Healing into life, as an event, Something we want for ourselves and loved ones Once this mortal coil is shuffled off. Jesus shows us that resurrection, healing into life Is the great constant work of God This ongoing, purposeful, becoming Underscores all time, Encompasses everyone And everything in all creation. Resurrection is the essence of God’s Love in action. Jesus of Nazareth In this simple, astounding story Shows us the essence of God: Compassionate Responsive And Resurrecting. And this, now, as Christ’s body, Is our work. Fr. Greg Boyle works in Los Angeles With men and woman who have sought A family and protection in gangs It is a precarious life, and death comes young. One young man came to him, saying, I want to live before I die. He so wanted to rise, Not in the next life, But in this one Death will come, in its time, to each, It’s deadness in this one we fear. And Father Boyle gave him work, and a new community, He made new friends, He found joy and purpose and peace, Before, violence ended his life. But he had lived before he died. This longing to rise up, Is, perhaps, God’s own longing in us And our resurrections, God’s compassionate response After Afghanistan returned to Taliban rule, Young women and girls’ lives were severely restricted. No longer allowed to attend school past just the early grades I heard a recording of some young women, Weeping over their loss, their sense of hopelessness. But the radio documentary continued. And teachers, women in Afghanistan and around the world Felt great compassion And they have set up online schools And the girls gather in homes of those with internet And they described what it felt like to learn French and History and music Even new dances You could hear in their voices, such hope! Even in the midst of uncertainty, they are becoming, Their resurrection is happening. After worship today, I’ll be heading over to Maynard Avenue United Methodist Church, It’s the last day for that building to be open. They are selling that property and Summit UMC is selling theirs And together they are forming a new church Circle of Hope UMC In North Linden, a place that needs an Open, gracious, reconciling presence. Resurrection is God’s Constant work in us, In all of us, together, And in each of us, We will know it’s completion only at death, But for now, The charge is clear: We are not to swim in cynicism and despair. Consider what the Lord has done for you, What mercies God has shown you, When a way was made out of now way When joy returned in the morning, Lean into it, God can bear the weight of your life The river of your tears, Your worries are known, your longings are heard And if Jesus of Nazareth Could raise from the dead Then the Christ that is in All creation is raising you, too. Raising Afghanistan, and Ukraine, And Ulvalde and all those women facing new uncertainties God is at work, Christ is in the world And resurrection is happening, Even there, even here, even now. Thanks be to God. Amen
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Location7 W Henderson Rd
Columbus, OH 43214 |
Telephone614-262-1163
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Parking
The Maple Grove parking lot on the south side of the church which is accessed from Aldrich Road, the first street south of Henderson Road. |