This season of Advent is a time to
abound in hope. We renew our hope
for the coming of Christ at Christmas bringing new life filled with justice,
peace and compassion for all people.
It is the season of God becoming human, the Word made flesh so we may
know that life can and should be better for the people in every nation, and of
every race, and religion.
In the November 14th issue
of our e-Parish Messenger I wrote about
the new Diocesan logo. The
Bishop’s staff created the logo to reflect our Christian vision of hope and the
expectation that things will get better for the people of Rhode Island. My interpretation of the logo is this:
the anchor grounds us theologically as the people of God, water reflects our
baptism in ministry and service, the wave is about the tensions we live with
between present-day reality and God’s
ever evolving new creation, and the Cross represents Christ’s resurrection to
new life. The logo focuses on who
we are as the Episcopal Church in Rhode Island, and it inspires us to fulfill
the mission of the Church “to restore all people to unity with God and each
other in Christ.” It is an image of hope, a fitting theme for this season of
Advent that we all may abound in hope.
The passage we read from Paul’s
Letter to the Romans is about hope. Paul wrote, “Whatever
was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by
steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” He also quoted the prophet Isaiah, "The
root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the
Gentiles shall hope." Then he
offered a blessing, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
John the Baptist in proclaiming a call
to repentance expressed hope for a new day. “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven
has come near.” It is a call to
turn away from older ways of being and doing things and turning toward a new
day of embracing hope and salvation. God’s promises are about to be fulfilled, the kingdom of
heaven has come near, a new day is on the horizon. It is time to abound in hope. John said, "I baptize you with water for repentance,
but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to
carry his sandals. He will baptize
you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
An important way to abound in hope is
to recall some of the more trying and tragic times in history through which we
have struggled and out of which comes an expectation of hope for a better life
for those in need. Last Thursday
the world lost an important leader and freedom fighter for civil rights,
compassion, and respect for the dignity of all people. Nelson Mandela was instrumental in
ending apartheid in South Africa, and he inspired people everywhere to embrace
our common humanity. We give
thanks for his life knowing that he abounded in hope in the midst of a time of
great injustice.
Closer to home last Monday I
participated in a conference call with a few colleagues who are
working to
develop a publication to honor the 50th anniversary of the death of
Jonathan Daniels.
Jon was a seminary classmate of mine
who, in 1965, spent a semester on leave from seminary to work for voter registration
and integration in Alabama. While
there, he along with several others was arrested and jailed for six days. When released they walked over to a
cash store in Hayneville, Alabama.
As they neared the store, a special deputy named Tom Coleman came out of
the store, exchanged a few words, and then fired a shotgun at the group. Jon was killed as he stepped in front
of a black girl to save her life.
Coleman was tried by a jury of white males and after just 45 minutes of
deliberation was found not guilty by reason of self-defense. The young girl whose life was saved is
Ruby Sales who is a graduate of Episcopal Divinity School and founder of the
SpiritHouse Project in Atlanta, Georgia.
The SpiritHouse Project is
“an
intergenerational network of diverse people who work for racial and social
justice.”
Jonathan Daniels is remembered each
year on the Episcopal Church calendar on August 14th. His name is listed in the book of
contemporary martyrs at Canterbury Cathedral, England. The commemorative project for the 50th
anniversary of Jon’s death intends to examine some of the lessons we have
learned. Jon was greatly moved by
a passage in the Gospel of Luke.
It was the Song of Mary the Magnificat,
“From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done
great things for me, and holy is his Name…. He has scattered the proud in their
conceit. He has cast down the
mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good
things, and the rich he has sent away empty…. He has remembered his promise of
mercy.”
Several questions are being considered
in developing this commemorative project: What is the relationship between martyrdom and social
justice? What is the role of the
Church? What about the unfinished
work of racism and other oppressions?
What is happening among today’s movements for social justice? Several people will be asked to submit
essays in response to these questions.
Before he took a leave from seminary Jon
had a fieldwork assignment here in Providence. His ministry in South Providence and was focused on civil
rights, voter registration, and equality. Our Diocese is now launching the Jonathan Daniels
House to carry on this work. The mission of Jonathan
Daniels House is to honor Daniels by planting a new community committed to
continuing the work of service, justice and reconciliation that he lived and
died for. A
more complete description of the program is to be announced soon and college
graduates from the national Episcopal Service Corps will be in residence to
serve in some nonprofit social agencies.
May we all abound in hope for the new life we celebrate at Christmas. Amen.
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