SPIRIT S A I N T S T E P H E N ’ S E P I S C O PA L C H U R C H
ADVENT/CHRISTMAS/EPIPHANY | WINTER 2019
We are all mothers of God
T
in the world, and in each other, maybe this ineffable surge e experience is our soul’s way of saying, “Yes! Finally! THIS is your true life. THIS is who you are. Pay attention to this.”
he conservative columnist with the Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan, wrote an interesting article recently that got my attention. She said that she had been preparing “a rather stern column about the mess in Washington,” but that she had been swept up by the bipartisan tribute to Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings, whose body lay in state at the Capitol. Noonan watched, she said, as one legislator after another, Republican and Democrat, spoke movingly about Rep. Cummings.
The e is a field of study in eligion called “the historical Jesus” that captivated me for decades. The reek New Testament, ancient textual fragments, early rabbinical and Christian commentaries … it all still interests me. Somewhat.
By Gary D. Jones
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke with feeling about how Cummings came to Washington not to be a big man but to do big things. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer noted, “His voice could stir the most cynical of hearts.” And Republican Representative Mark Meadows read from the Bible, “In my father’s house are many mansions…” and allowed that this lovely man from Baltimore was now in a wonderful new home. Then eggy Noonan wrote the line that arrested me: “What was poignant was how much the speakers enjoyed being their best selves.” Of course they did. Don’t we all enjoy being our best selves? And isn’t it a refreshing reminder that our soul, our best self, our true life, the Christ within, is always there, just waiting patiently for us to return? Although she had been poised to write another “stern column about the mess in Washington,” seeing these political figu es return to their souls, their “best selves,” caused Noonan to remember the day she was introduced to Elijah Cummings fi e or so years ago. One can imagine: an outspoken, conservative, white, Republican woman, meeting an outspoken, liberal, black Democratic man for the first time in our fraught and divisive culture. And when they were introduced, Noonan said she went to shake his hand, but Elijah Cummings would have none of that. Instead, he enveloped her in a big hug. Then, oonan said, “It seemed important to the two of us, in one of those nice moments that sometimes happen, that we show a mutual appreciation for who the other was. We did, and held hands.” They held hands Clear-eyed Peggy Noonan found herself caught off gua d by the memory. “I just found to my shock,” she wrote, “that remembering this leaves me a little choked.” Of course it does. And anytime we are getting “a little choked” in this way, we should pay attention. Because maybe this is how our souls express themselves in us—not with mere thoughts or emotions, but with a surge beyond all thought and feeling. Maybe when we are a little choked, as we remember the deep down goodness we felt when we held hands and affirmed what was beautiful and goo
But at a certain point, I became less fascinated by studying so voraciously the historical Jesus, and I became more enthralled by listening attentively for the living Christ today—a lifelong project in which I’ll always feel like a beginner, but a project that from time to time leads to a surprising surge that I wouldn’t trade for anything, times when I feel a little choked, times when I sense that the Christ in you is waking and stirring to life again the Christ in me. Meister Eckhart said in the 14th century, “What good is it to me that Mary gave birth to the son of God fourteen hundred years ago, and I do not also give birth to the Son of God in my time and in my culture? We are all meant to be mothers of God. God is always needing to be born.” As Mister Rogers liked to say in our own day, at commencement speeches at some of our nation’s most prestigious universities, “From the time you were very little, you’ve had people who smiled you into smiling, people who have talked you into talking, sung you into singing, loved you into loving…. Let’s just take some time to think of those extra special people. Some of them may be right here. Some may be far away. Some may even be in heaven. No matter where they are, deep down you know that they have always wanted what was best for you. They ha e always loved you beyond measure and have encouraged you to be true to the best within you.” And then Mister Rogers would time a minute of silence, so that everyone could remember. Try it yourself now. That feeling? t is your soul waking. It is Christ being born again in you. ✤
In this issue
Baby Jesus is real ........................................................................2 Enrich your Advent ....................................................................3 A Christmas shop for our East End neighbors...........................5 Youth can take a break and help others..................................6 Pantry client becomes pantry volunteer ...................................7 International outreach focus shifts ............................................. 7 Seasonal events ......................................................................8, 9 Engaging with Scripture .........................................................10 Sun Ho Nuon honored with portrait.......................................11 Come inside for our year-round market ................................12 Core values emerge from ‘visioning’ process ............................14