Called by the Widow: For the Sake of the Truth

 Dear Congregation,

This morning I would like to thank you for allowing and encouraging me to continue to accept invitations to ecumenical and interfaith events. Whether it is Week of Prayer for Christian Unity services, monthly peninsula clergy gatherings, observer at Synods, workshop attendee or retreat leader, relationships have been nurtured.

There are times when I think about the value of ecumenical or interfaith events and wonder if my time might be better spent elsewhere. Every so often I am reminded why this work is important, not just for me, not just for this congregation, not just for the whole church, but for the whole world.

After the US election President Obama wrote: in a country as big and diverse as ours, we won’t always see eye-to-eye on everything. But progress requires us to extend good faith and grace – even to people with whom we deeply disagree. That’s how we’ve come this far, and its how we’ll keep building a country that is more fair and more just, more equal and more free.

Ecumenical and interfaith relationship requires each participant and the community they represent to extend good faith and grace – even to people with whom we deeply disagree. I have attended events where I can not fully participate in the rituals like receiving communion, have restrictions not extended to male colleagues like where I sit and whom I can shake hands with. I have been to places where I feel like a token. And yet, I go, knowing that the invitation itself was pushing the boundaries and was offered in good faith and grace. Accepting an invitation means that I have to learn how to hold my truth, and listen to the truth of others; to be able to articulate my beliefs and values, and live my faith- not pointing fingers or trying to change others, but share where I am and from where I draw hope and life. Accepting ecumenical and interfaith invitations is to show our communities and the wider world, that those who deeply disagree can sit together, share together, and be civil and hospitable with each other.

The first half of this week I lead a retreat for the clergy of the Anglican Diocese of NS and PEI. The retreat explored the scriptures for this coming Advent and how as preachers we can engage with the texts and preach the texts with a renewed sense of wonder and purpose; preaching living Word. Not only am I prepared for Advent I learned much from my Anglican colleagues.

The closing worship included the Nov.3^rd commemoration of an Anglican theologian whom I had never heard of: Richard Hooker. Richard Hooker created a distinctive Anglican theology in the mid-late 1500s, describing Anglican theology as a “threefold cord not quickly broken.” Picture a three-legged stool where balance and strength comes through: scripture, reason, and tradition. Hooker was firmly moderate, defending Anglican theology in the milieu of papist heavy Roman Catholicism and Radical Puritanism. Bishop Sandra in her sermon reminded the Anglican clergy of Hooker’s moderation and civil style of argument, remarkable in the religious atmosphere of his time.

Hooker emphasized what was held in common. He articulated a vision of unity in an age of disunity where a church both catholic and reformed, full of angry raised voices, could both be quieted by the mystery of the Eucharist. In the hospitality of Christ’s table, communion with Christ, there was experienced a communion with others (including and especially those who disagreed with each other).

It is for times like these that I am grateful for scripture, reason, and tradition.

Within Christian tradition there is a unity among us, despite angry raised voices, although interpreting differently- we share scripture, the Lord’s Supper, Christ. We all believe that these things change our lives and how we act. Today the readings remind me that Jewish tradition and Christian tradition have continued to share the stories of the widow, the foreigner, the marginalized, along side the scoffing religious leaders and less than compassionate political authorities. Denominations have various interpretations of the stories, but we have in common the stories. Every time the scripture story of a widow is read, listeners hear the divide in humanity; the separation of relationships. Widow stories always highlight human division: divisions of gender, race, status, economics.

In the stories, the widow, who by many or most in her society categorized her as less than, exemplifies a grace and good faith, a hospitality and courage to live a life that is ‘other.’ In the opening her door to a foreign male, in the making and sharing of bread, in the going to the Temple, in the giving of her only coins – the widow- lives and proclaims God’s kindom. She is not dissuaded by the interference of ‘man’s games.’ She is not thwarted by fear or overwhelmed by other’s cynicism. She is persistent and hopeful. She is gracious and faithful. She bears witness to what can be.

 

How apropos that the stories of two widows greet listeners this Sunday. The Revised Common Lectionary is used across mainline denominations, throughout North America and around the world. Millions of Christians are simultaneously confronted by human disparity and reminded who we are called to be by the story of widows. Whether worshipping in a Lutheran Church in the Palestinian city of Ramalla, the Roman Catholic Basilica in Amsterdam, an Episcopal cathedral in the United States, listeners are invited to follow the example of the widow – to exemplify grace and good faith, a hospitality and courage to live a life that is ‘other.’

We are called to not be dissuaded by the interference of ‘man’s game,’ to not be thwarted by fear or overwhelmed by other’s cynicism. We are called to be persistent and hopeful, to bear witness to what can be.

 

We accept God’s call and gather strength to bear witness to what can be, with the appointment prayer from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer for the commemoration of Richard Hooker:

O God of truth and peace, you raised up your servant Richard Hooker in a day of bitter controversy to defend with sound reasoning and great charity the catholic and reformed religion: Grant that we may maintain that middle way, not as a compromise for the sake of peace, but as a comprehension for the sake of the truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.