In his teachings, Jesus keeps things deceptively simple. No convoluted doctrinal lessons, no long theological lectures. He simply tells his disciples what to practice. "Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."
(John 13:34-35)
Some of you may have seen the movie, "Out of Africa" starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford. It's the story of Karen Blixen, a woman who leaves her homeland of Denmark to travel to Africa, where she eventually runs a coffee plantation in Kenya. In her book, on which the movie was based, Karen tells the story of a young Kikuyu boy named Kitau who appeared at her door in Nairobi one day to ask if he might work for her. She said yes and he turned out to be a good worker. But after just three months he came to her again to ask her for a letter of recommendation to Sheik Ali bin Salim, a Muslim in Mombasa. Upset at the thought of losing him, she offered to raise Kitau's pay, but he was firm about leaving.
He explained that he had decided he would become either a Christian or a Muslim, and his whole purpose in coming to live with her had been to see the ways and habits of Christians up close. Next he would go live for three months with Sheik Ali to see how Muslims behaved and then he would make up his mind. Aghast, Blixen wrote, "I believe that even an Archbishop, when he had these facts laid before him, would have said, or at least thought, as I said, 'Good God, Kitau, you might have told me that when you came here."
Some of you may remember that folky song, 'And they'll know we are Christians by our love'. Jesus came among us to show us one thing: how to love one another. Of course love can mean many things and we use many words to describe it - compassion, passion, devotion, empathy. In his letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes, 'Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.'
Today I'd like to leave you with some links that invite us to express love in action. In particular, the video clips explore the notion of love as empathy. One is by Brene Brown who is a research professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work. She also has some great Ted Talks on line and has written a number of excellent books, the most recent being Rising Strong.
The other two videos are produced by the Cleveland Clinic in their effort to create more empathetic hospital staff at their non-profit medical center in the USA.
September 1st has been declared as a 'World Day of Prayer for Creation'. Christian denominations, along with ecumenical and interfaith organizations are encouraging people to gather on September 1st to pray for creation. At EMUC, September 1st will launch our annual focus on the Creator and Creation. During this five week period ahead, there will be opportunities to sing in celebration of God's creation, pray for the health and healing of creation and to take action to protect and live with respect in Creation. At EMUC's regular Wednesday evening service of prayers and communion this week, we will take time to pray especially for creation. Please join us on Wednesday and/or pray this prayer throughout the Season of Creation.
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace,
that we may live as brothers and sisters,
harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray,
in our struggle for justice, love and peace.
Amen
From Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home
Peace, Kathy Toivanen.
