St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Emmaus, PA
Reflections on The Season of Pentecost
The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, July 5, 2020
Dear St. Margaret’s Family,
Question, dear friends: How are you all weathering this storm of multiple, serious issues of our time? If you are like I, you are living from week to week, sometimes, day to day, as news unfolds concerning the Covid crisis. It is hard. It is stressful.
As you know, cases are surging in many states and the CDC states that it poses more and more serious risks for us all. In the last two weeks, new cases in the U.S. are up 80% (NY Times, 7.01.20). The wearing of masks in public is very simply a civic and moral duty – to ourselves and to others. In my view, not to wear a mask is tantamount to reckless endangerment of lives.
It seems to me as if this time is one of weariness, even discouragement, and a time of carrying burdens – particularly the challenges of working to resolve the ongoing scandal of racism and poverty in our country. I commend to your reading and action the work The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, Founder and Director of The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for a Moral Revival, named in honor of the original 1968 campaign founded by Martin Luther King. In 2018, Barber was named a MacArthur Fellow (popularly known as the “Genius Grant”) for “building broad-based fusion coalitions as part of a moral movement to confront racial and economic inequality.”
The burden of the scandal of racism and poverty in our country is nothing new; but there is a palpable shift since the murder of George Floyd. His death has mobilized the consciences of our nation and the world. I remember being introduced to the BLACK LIVES MATTER movement while serving as a deputy from our diocese at the 2015 General Convention in Salt Lake City, the convention at which our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry, was elected.
In his preaching Bishop Curry often quotes the Hymn “There is a Balm in Gilead” (see below). This wonderful spiritual speaks to sometimes feeling discouraged but knowing that God has a balm and cure for this. God wants us to be vital, energetic, HOPEFUL disciples as we labor to further the Kingdom of God here on earth – in our day.
In Matthew’s Gospel this week, we read the powerful, comforting Words of Jesus as he says:
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart….
for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
My prayer for you, and for myself, is that we accept and claim Jesus’ gift of encouragement and Jesus’ strength. That we not become weary or discouraged. There is much to do! As the Spiritual sings:
Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again.
Alleluia and Amen!
God’s richest blessings to you all as we work TOGETHER for God’s peace and justice in our day.
God bless you and keep you in God’s loving embrace,
Jane+
Hymn from Episcopal Hymnal # 676
“THERE IS A BALM IN GILEAD”
(Chorus is in Bold)
There is a balm in Gilead,
To make the wounded whole;
There is a balm in Gilead,
To heal the sin-sick soul.
Sometimes I feel discouraged,
And think my work’s in vain,
But then the Holy Spirit
Revives my soul again.
(Chorus)
If you cannot preach like Peter,
If you cannot pray like Paul,
You can tell the love of Jesus,
And say He died for all.
(Chorus)
Don’t ever feel discouraged,
‘Cause Jesus is your friend,
And if you lack for knowledge,
He’ll not refuse to lend.