Pastor Peg's Sermon on Psalm 23, Ephesians 2, and  Mark 6  Pentecost 7

Today’s Gospel begins, “The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all they had done and taught.”  Now if I were to tell you all we have done on our Delegation to Rwanda, we’d be here all week.  So I won’t do that. 

We also read in the Gospel: “Many were coming and going and they had no leisure even to eat.”  That was the experience of youth and adults who recently attended the National Youth Gathering in San Antonio , Texas .  The National Youth Gathering was filled with activities and worship and service opportunities.  I look forward to hearing their reports on their journey.  It is important to hear from our youth and heir experience as part of Christ’s body in the world.  They are vital to the church now and in the future.

One of the last things I heard here at Faith before I went on the Bishop’s Delegation was that one of our youth wants to be on our Social Ministry Team to be a liaison between that Team and Youth Ministry so there can be coordinated efforts of adults and youth and Social Ministry.  I’m thrilled with that, and hope that can set precedence! 

Being in Rwanda surrounded us with young people.  Pastor Elidard and I are the same age, but there are many children and young people.  And it was good to see them healthy and vibrant – ready for life and hoping there will be opportunities – especially for an education.  Many of the children are not able to go to school beyond primary school.  One of the things we certainly could help with is sponsoring children who would otherwise not be able to go to school past 5^th grade. 

We didn’t know what to expect before we hopped the plane for the long ride to Rwanda.  I had seen Hotel Rwanda, as I know many of you have.  On the flight over I read the book: We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow we will be Killed with our Families.  It tells unbelievable but true stories of the 1994 genocide.  But when I arrived I put the book aside. This is now 12 years later. I wanted to focus on what was happening now. 

What I quickly learned is that the genocide is very much on their hearts and minds.  They are baffled themselves how such a horrible thing happened.  But they are also courageously dealing with it and moving into the future in ways that moved me.

A large Genocide Museum has been developed in Kigali, the capital.  Visiting it is much like going to a Holocaust Museum.  It was a nightmare beyond imagination.  I was helped by the scriptures that have been appointed to accompany us in these days.  I brought with me on the trip the Celebrate inserts and bulletin covers for all the weeks we would be gone.  They fed me daily; grounding me on the hope before us.

This Word is a Living Word – one of the most intimate ways God accompanies us, even as we try to accompany each other.  God comes near in this Word.  And wouldn’t you know, appointed for our reflection is Psalm 23.  As you know, it includes: “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.”  That is what they are doing in Rwanda .  They are walking through a valley where death has been a gruesome acquaintance.  But the Christians there know that they do not walk alone.  God does not abandon them, even if the world did, and it did in those dark days.

Christians know God as one who comes among them and suffers with them.  They do not have to climb up to heaven to find God. God comes down to them in Jesus crucified and risen.  Incarnational theology speaks in Rwanda.  A question before us is: how are we following Jesus in being incarnately present to the suffering in the world?

On my flight home I had plenty of time to read Left to Tell: a young woman’s telling of how her faith helped her survive the genocide and has shaped her life since.  Prayer and scripture gave her courage to survive and helped her forgive and move on in life.  If you only read one book on the genocide, Left to Tell is worth reflecting on.  What might it challenge us to in our lives?  Where is it hard for us to forgive?  How radically are we living the Gospel that calls us to well-lived lives even when stakes are against us? 

Psalm 23 wasn’t the only scripture that hit me between the eyes.  The Ephesians readings were also faithful companions reminding me that “Christ is our peace.  In his flesh he has broken down the dividing wall – that he might reconcile one group to another.”  And it is significant that it reads: “In his flesh!”

The Epistle writer was speaking of the divisions between Christians and Jews in the first century.  Today we can think on the possible end to divisions between the tribes in Africa that lead to things like the genocide.   Or we can think back to Nazi Germany and its dividing walls that led to such atrocities.  Or Croatia and Serbia, and certainly Cambodia come to mind. 

This past week dividing walls of hostility have flared violently between Lebanon and Israel !  There are so many dividing walls.  So much suffering caused by dualisms; by group mentality where people align with one side and point the finger or gun or bomb at the other.  We do it ourselves.  We make them and us about so many things.  But in Christ, all dividing walls have been broken down. That is the spiritual reality Christ has accomplished.

That does not mean we all become like each other.  It certainly does not mean that all must become like us!  It does mean that all are to be seen as brothers and sisters – people who God loves, and so should we.  Christ brings walls down, and that is our calling every chance we get.  An article in a recent Christian Century said, “All walls serve purposes, but not all walls serve the purposes of God.”  That is good to remember.

If I came home from Rwanda and Ethiopia with any one conviction, it is that there is no wall between here and there that serves any purpose of God.  There is geographical distance.  But that distance is transcended by God’s love.  I was given the privilege of speaking three times in worship settings.  Most amazing to me was the honor of “bringing the word” as they say, to our sister congregation – the Kagitumba Parish. 

I used the mustard seed parable – the small seed that Jesus used to describe the kingdom of God.  I pointed out that we and Rwanda have something in common.  Rwanda is the smallest country in Africa – and Chico is a Spanish word meaning small.  We both are reminded to live out the mystery of the mustard seed – the mystery of God bringing great things out of even the smallest humble efforts.   

As Macy and I left Rwanda, we were poignantly aware that the Kagitumba Parish and its pastor are counting on us as family counts on family.  Pastor Elidard kept saying what a miracle it was we were there.  They had prepared with great sensitivity for our coming and welcomed us in amazing ways.  We want to tell you more and have set aside Sunday, August 20^th to make a full day of it, at both services followed by lunch and slides and much storytelling.  I hope you will join us and invite a friend!

In closing, I want to tell you that it is the Word of God that holds us together here as a congregation and that holds us together with those across the miles.  It is the Word of God that links us with Rwanda and with Sandra, the international youth from Mexico City who attended the National Youth Gathering with our group.  She is back in Mexico, but remains in our hearts.

The Word, audible and visible, that feeds those who are far off, also feeds us who are near and makes us all one in Christ’s body the church.  Christ is our peace.  He has broken down all dividing walls, even geographical ones.  Walls are down.  It is a spiritual reality.  It is now up to us as Christ’s body in the world to live in such a way that this spiritual truth becomes believable on earth as it is in heaven!

                                                                                    Amen.

+Pastor Peg Schultz-Akerson, to the glory of God
Faith Lutheran Church, Chico, California