Give Hope

SERMON FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2010 SAINT ANNE’S
PROPER 24C LYDIA HUTTAR BROWN
Genesis 32:22-31, Luke 18:1-8



It was dark in the mine, half a mile underground.

After the deafening roar of falling rock, after the terror of feeling like the mountain was caving in and would crush them, after the silence and the realization they were still alive, it still took hours for the dust to settle and for the 33 Chilean miners to realize they were trapped by a huge rock that blocked their only exit. They gave thanks to God that they had not been in the passageway, on their way to the surface for their lunch break. They gave thanks that they were instead trapped a half mile underground in a huge cavern, and they gave thanks that surely -- almost certainly -- people were looking for them and would find them. They gave thanks and began their active hoping. Persevering in hope. They rationed their little bit of food, to make it last as long as possible. They exercised and sang and told stories and made plans for the future when they would be rescued.

It was dark in the lives of teenagers, in Minnesota and around the country.

Well, at least it felt dark. So dark and lonely and misunderstood that they could see no escape except death. Teenagers who were harassed and bullied because of who they were. And who felt trapped and alone. Without hope, without light, without a future.

It was dark in the forest along the Jabbock River, as Jacob wrestled with the angel.

He wrestled with his doubts and fears, wrestled with God pushing him toward his estranged brother, wrestled with his own inadequacy and mortality. But Jacob didn’t give up. He struggled with all his doubts and fears. He struggled with his conscience. He demanded a divine blessing. He persevered in hope -- active hope --
that his encounter with his brother would be blessed by God.

It was dark in the life of the widow.

Her husband had died. In her time -- in Jesus’ time -- a widow was destitute. No husband meant no home, no livelihood, no money.
So there were moral and social obligations to widows built into the legal code. But this widow was not being served well by the system. A corrupt judge was refusing to make sure her safety net was in place. But the widow persevered in hope. She wouldn’t rest until she got justice,the protection of the law, for the help she needed.

Above the miners, their loved ones were also persevering in hope. Hope that their loved ones would be found, alive. They made a camp above the mine -- Camp Esperanza -- Camp Hope. And nobody gave up.

With Jacob, the angel also persevered in the struggle,and gave Jacob a blessing as the sun came up. It may have been dark in the nighttime, but Jacob was aware of God’s presence with him throughout his struggle. Jacob did not persevere or hope alone.

The widow also was not alone in her persevering hope. She had the law on her side; she had the wisdom of maturity to take a longer view and insist on justice for herself.

Where is Camp Hope for young people who are afraid and lonely? Where is the persevering, hopeful community that will stop at nothing to lighten their darkness?

Churches like St. Anne’s, who believe in the honor and dignity of every human being, must speak louder and reach out more clearly with a message of hope. Bishop Gene Robinson said in a recent blog posting that religion is killing our young people. The religious messages that get into the mainstream media too often fuel hatred and prejudice, even cruelty. We must counteract the messages that come from much of organized religion that adds to the despair of young people. Our message is this:

God loves you, as you are. You are a child of God, created in God’s image. God has great hope for you, and so do we.

Being people of good will is not enough. We have to actively hope, actively struggle and demand a blessing for all people who are trapped, who are in darkness. Especially young people who don’t have the perspective to take the long view.

The Star Tribune recently had a contest for young people to enter their dreams for a better world. Winston Chen, a 5th grader in Eden Prairie, wrote:

I dare to dream of a community where people of all different cultures and religions come together creating a great collage of many colors.
I dare to dream of a community where despair is replaced with hope and fear is overcome by joy.
I dare to dream of a community where collaboration is valued, and everyone is an equal contributor.

Mackenzie Manuel, a 4th grader in Minneapolis, wrote:

My dream for our community is for people to stop violence and get along. … [One] thing I would change is bullying and harassment. Some kids get bullied all the time and other kids see it and don’t do anything. That’s called a “bystander.” If you see somebody getting bullied, you should tell someone because if you don’t it could happen to you! … So remember to always help others out and don’t be afraid to stand up for what’s right.

Olivia Meredith, 3rd grader in Minnetonka, finished her short essay with a poem:

Give hope, watch others beam,
it is easier than it seems.
Pay it forward is the theme,
as a community, we make dreams.


Give hope. Watch others beam. We, as God’s people, are called to persevere in hope and to shine the light of persevering hope for others. For all people. This is our vocation, and it is critically needed now, right now, in our families, neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and community. Let us be a loud insistent persevering voice, demanding justice for all people, and working, waiting, actively hoping.

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Peace Teachings

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MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH

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On October 16, 2010, St. Anne's planted three peace poles in our peace garden :

Baha'i Teaching

Be generous in prosperity, and thankful in adversity.
Be fair in thy judgement, and guarded in thy speech.
Be a lamp unto those who walk in darkness, and a home to the stranger.
Be eyes to the blind, and a guiding light unto the feet of the erring.
Be a breath of life to the body of humankind, a dew to the soil of the human heart, and a fruit upon the tree of humility.

Buddhist Teaching

May all beings everywhere plagued with sufferings of body and mind
quickly be freed from their illnesses.
May those frightened cease to be afraid, and may those bound be free.
May the powerless find power, and may people think of befriending one another.
May those who find themselves in trackless, fearful wildernesses—
the children, the aged, the unprotected---
be guarded by beneficent celestials,
and may they swiftly attain Buddhahood.

Christian Teaching

Blessed are the Peacemakers,
for they shall be known as the Children of God.
But I say to you that hear, love your enemies,
do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you,
pray for those who abuse you.
To those who strike you on the cheek, offer the other also,
and from those who take away your cloak,
do not withhold your coat as well.
Give to everyone who begs from you,
and of those who take away your goods, do not ask them again.
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Hindu Prayer for Peace

Oh God, lead us from the unreal to the Real.
Oh God, lead us from darkness to light.
Oh God, lead us from death to immortality.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti unto all.
Oh Lord God almighty, may there be peace in celestial regions.
May there be peace on earth.
May the waters be appeasing.
May herbs be wholesome, and may trees and plants bring peace to all.
May all beneficent beings bring peace to us.
May thy Vedic Law propagate peace all through the world.
May all things be a source of peace to us.
And may thy peace itself, bestow peace on all,
and may that peace come to me also.

Jain Teaching

Peace and Universal Love is the essence of the Gospel preached by all the Enlightened Ones.
The Lord has preached that equanimity is the Dharma.
Forgive do I creatures all, and let all creatures forgive me.
Unto all have I amity, and unto none enmity.
Know that violence is the root cause of all miseries in the world.
Violence, in fact, is the knot of bondage.
"Do not injure any living being."
This is the eternal, perennial, and unalterable way of spiritual life.A weapon howsoever powerful it may be, can always be superseded by a superior one;
but no weapon can, however, be superior to non-violence and love.

Jewish Teaching

Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
that we may walk the paths of the Most High.
And we shall beat our swords into ploughshares,
and our spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation—
neither shall they learn war any more.
And none shall be afraid,
for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts has spoken.

Muslim Teaching

In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful.
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us and made us into tribes and nations, that we may know each other, not that we may despise each other. Most Gracious are those who walk on the Earth in humility, and when we address each other, may we say "PEACE."

Native African Teaching

Almighty God, the Great Thumb, we cannot evade to tie any knot;
the Roaring Thunder that splits mighty trees:
the all-seeing Lord up on high who sees even the footprints
of an antelope on a rockmass here on Earth.
You are the one who does not hesitate to respond to our call.
You are the cornerstone of peace.

Native American Prayer for Peace

O Great Spirit of our Ancestors,.
To your messengers the four winds,
and to Mother Earth who provides for your children.
Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect,
and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mind.
Let us learn to share all the good things you provide for us on this Earth.

Shinto Teaching

Although the people living across the ocean surrounding us,
I believe, are all our brothers and sisters,
why are there constant troubles in this world?
Why do winds and waves rise in the ocean surrounding us?
I only earnestly wish that the wind will soon puff away
all the clouds which are hanging over the tops of the mountains.

Sikh Teaching

God adjudges us according to our deeds, not the coat that we wear:
that Truth is above everything, but higher still is truthful living..Know that we attain God when we love, and only that victory endures in consequence of which no one is defeated.

Sufi Prayer for Peace

O Almighty Sun, whose light clears away all clouds,
We take refuge in you. Guide of all people, God of all deities, Lord of all angels,
We pray you to dispel the mists of illusion from the hearts of the nations
And lift their lives by your all-sufficient power,
Your ever shining light, your everlasting life,
Your heavenly joy and your perfect peace.

Zoroastrian Prayer for Peace

We pray to God to eradicate all the misery in the world:
that understanding triumph over ignorance,
that generosity triumph over indifference,
that trust triumph over contempt,
and that truth triumph over falsehood.

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