Hope in the Middle of the Night

 Rev. Molly F. James, Ph.D.

Chapel of Our Lord

October 22, 2024

Eph. 2:11-22; Psalm 85:8-13; Luke 12:35-38

May God’s Word be spoken. May God’s Word be heard. May that point us to the living Word who is Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

‘Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit.’ Really, God? Really? Haven’t you noticed we are anxious and tired? I really could use a good night’s sleep, and maybe an extra nap to boot. Trying be a good parent, a good priest, a good Christian, a good human, all while perennially being inundated with news headlines about war and rocket attacks here, fire and hurricane and flooding there, plus the systemic realities of poverty and racism and gun violence - it’s exhausting. And there is so much anxiety around us about what is going to happen in our country in the coming weeks. God, could we please have a day off? Or maybe we could just take a nap and you could wake us up when the world is safer and more stable? 

Of course it would be easy to be weighed down by this passage, especially if we are feeling worn out. And then there is repeated use of the word “slave.” A word that is historically and theologically laden. A word that ought to make us shudder and wish we could banish its reality for our vocabulary and the world. And yet we know that as much progress we may have made in the political world with constitutional rights and voting acts, the dreamed for reality of equality for all people is not realized. And human slavery still happens across the world in far more hidden ways today. Oh my, there is so much heaviness in this chapter. 

God, I am still wanting that nap. Oh wait, you are saying it wouldn’t be very Christian of me to just curl up and ignore the realities of the world? Oh wait, there might be more to this all if I keep reading? Oh, you mean I shouldn’t just jump to my own conclusions and simply reinforce my own ideas and feelings. There might be some value in staying open and curious? Hmmm. Okay, I’ll keep reading. 

Okay, so there is something about being blessed if we stay awake and alert. Note, actually I did what I often do when I am struggling with a passage - I went to read the Message version. I am glad I did. It offered a very helpful perspective:  “Lucky the servants whom the master finds on watch! He’ll put on an apron, sit them at the table, and serve them a meal, sharing his wedding feast with them. It doesn’t matter what time of the night he arrives; they’re awake—and so blessed!’” As usual Eugene Peterson has made the passage come alive. Imagine waiting up into the dark of night only to have the leader return, full of joy and grace, and willing to make a meal for us? That really does change things doesn’t? And not just because you all know I love a good meal!

The end of this passage changes everything. It puts the stress of the beginning in a whole new light. Maybe God is simply acknowledging the harshness of the current realities. And reminding us sometimes it is literally or figuratively the middle of the night, and we are anxious and trying to keep busy. Then what? Well, actually if we can stay awake, if we can do our part, if we can have faith and trust in God and those around us, there is tremendous hope. 

Because guess what? God does not leave us alone with our thoughts and our anxieties. God is present. In fact, God is present with us to offer joy and sustenance to get us through until morning. Now, it may not always come in the literal form of a feast cooked for us, although I would certainly love that! It will come in the form of joys and blessings that will sustain us through our challenges. And here’s the thing. They are there. In beautiful warm sunshine, in the smile and the presence of a friend, in an expected piece of good news, in the opportunity to do work that brings us joy, in the gift of gathering together in this space for worship, in the simple joy of time to savor a cup of coffee or a favorite treat. We just have to open our eyes, we have to stay alert to them. 

So, my friends, I hope in the midst of all the challenges in our lives and in the world, we can hold on to the hope and the sustaining truth of this passage. Things may seem dark at the present moment, but we are never alone. And if we stay alert, we will continue to be surprised by the blessings - small and large- that come our way. Amen. 

Teresa of Avila and Parenting

Rev. Molly F. James, Ph.D.

Chapel of Our Lord

October 15, 2024, Teresa of Avila

1 Samuel 3:1-18; Psalm 42:1-7; Romans 8:22-27; Mark 1:35-39

May God’s Word be spoken. May God’s Word be heard. May that point us to the living Word who is Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

I have been reading a really helpful parenting book lately entitled “Good Inside” by Dr. Becky Kennedy. It was recommended by a dear friend. So far it has been an insightful and practical book that I am really appreciating. Perhaps the thing I appreciate most about it is that she says it’s never too late for repair. No matter how old we are, no matter old our kids are, it’s never too late to do things differently and re-wire our brains. The miracle of neuroplasticity. That’s the most hopeful thing I have found in this book. 

And this book has also challenged me. Perhaps her strongest point is that the best way to be a better parent is to do our own work. To take care of ourselves. Get enough rest and exercise. Eat well. Take time off. Do things that feed our souls. Reflect on our own childhood experiences and how they shaped us. Just like when Ms y of us were doing CPE, we need to be aware of the baggage we bring into the room. What are the behaviors in our children that trigger us? How might we work on our own challenges in order to be more fully present and best able to parent our children?

Here’s the thing though. While I find this all valuable parenting advice, I actually think it’s also really good advice for being a human and being a Christian. If we want to grow more fully into the stature of Christ, if we want to be who God is calling us to be, then we have to put the work in. We cannot simply sit around complaining about how everything would be easier in our lives if this person would stop doing X and that person would start doing Y. As much as we might wish to be able to change the behavior of our parents, our friends, our children, our colleagues, government officials, etc, etc. We cannot. The only person we can change is ourselves. 

Living our faith fully means investing in ourselves. Investing in our own well being. It means that we don’t run ourselves ragged nor do we do things just for the sake of being busy or seeming to be productive. We do the things that are worth doing. We do the things that build up the kingdom. 

Today we remember the mystic, St. Teresa of Avila who is perhaps best known for saying:  “Christ has no other hands but your hands to do his work today; no other feet but your feet to guide folk on his way; no other lips but your lips to tell them why he died; no other love but your love to win them to his side.” 

God is calling us, each of us, as God called Samuel. God is calling us to be our best selves. To live our faith with our lives and our bodies. To embody that love for everyone we meet- whether they are people we will have years upon years with like our children or our best friends or they are someone we will meet only once for a few minutes. 

Here’s the thing that is at the heart of what Teresa taught and at the heart of Dr. Becky’s parenting advice. We can do nothing for the world if we do not have love. If our hearts are not filled with love, we cannot share it with the world. And I think for many of us, especially those of us who are high achievers and doers, it can be to easy to just get doing and fail to pause, reflect, and see ourselves as worthy of the same love as everyone else. 

So, I hope that in the midst of this time of transition. In the midst of waiting and wondering how it’s all going to turn out for our church, our nation, and our world, we can turn a little bit inward to care for ourselves and to do that which fills our hearts with love, to see in ourselves the potential God sees in each of us. For when we are filled up with God’s love then we can indeed be Christ’s hands and feet to the world. Amen.