Hearing The Song Of God

Like many, I am still reeling from the news related to Fr. Jim that came out this week. While I knew that this scenario may be a possibility, seeing the words in print on the Caring Bridge site was like a gut punch. I took comfort, however, in the peace that Fr. Jim feels in his decision and take seriously his urging to “support one another” through this. As Rev. Myra mentioned in her weekly pastor’s update, if you need some extra support around what you’re feeling these days, please reach out to the staff. My email is also available through the Spiritus website uder the Adult Enrichment section.

I have also been reflecting deeply on Fr. Jim’s influence on my life as, I’m sure, many of you have as well. If I had not met Fr. Jim and been introduced to the community of Corpus Christi Church, I would not be writing this today, and my life would have taken such a different direction. Perhaps if you had not met Fr. Jim, you would not be reading this. It’s been amazing to hear so many stories lately of his influence on people’s lives. Truly, he has touched so many of us in profound ways!

I often think of what Fr. Jim said about saints. He would say, “They don’t show you how good they are. They show you how good YOU are.”

To me, Fr. Jim is a saint, in part, because of this factor. For so many of us, he showed us our own goodness, and that profoundly impacted us. What a true gift to be loved as we are!

In our cycle of readings, we’re deep into “end times” (apocalyptic) literature. Today’s reading from Revelation 14 uses all kinds of symbolic and fantastical language to describe what happens when God comes to set things right on earth. The passage tells us that the heavenly hosts were singing a song and that “no one could learn this hymn except the hundred and forty-four thousand who had been ransomed from the earth.”

Sadly, a great deal of focus through the centuries has been put on who the “elect” are that are mentioned in a passage such as this. Some Christians even believe that literally only 144,000 people on earth will be “saved” by God!

I hear something entirely different going on in Revelation. I do think that some people “hear” the authentic song of God, and that this song changes their life. And I believe that people throughout history have heard this song and set in motion a whole new way of being in the world. Fr. Jim is one of those people for me.

What is more, Fr. Jim – like so many other great spiritual leaders – does not just say, “Listen to ME sing this song! Aren’t I good at singing it?!” He says, “YOU can sing it too…here’s how you sing God’s song…” And he has gone on to teach so many people the song of God. It reminds me a lot of the 12 steps of recovery programs where the 12th step says that having had a “spiritual awakening” we work to carry that awakening to others as well. It is not for us alone.

I think the same is true for the song of God. It is a song to be shared, and it is a song of freedom and liberation. Of equality. Of generosity. Of justice. Of hospitality. Of joy. Of grace and forgiveness.

Part of what it means to sing God’s song in today’s world comes from our gospel passage. In Luke 21, Jesus and his followers are in the synagogue and witness a wealthy person putting a big donation in the treasury while a poor widow drops in a few coins. Jesus points her out and says that, “those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”

For decades (especially in capitalistic economies), this passage has been used in churches on “Stewardship Sunday” to encourage people to give generously. “Let’s be like the widow,” the pastor might say. But generosity is not even what this passage is about!

Today’s reading comes right after a passage where Jesus is critiquing the religious leaders because they use the laws and traditions to manipulate people into giving donations in order to receive a “blessing” from God. Jesus, however, knew that “blessings” from God had nothing to do with how much you gave to the synagogue. Furthermore, he knew the people like this poor woman would give their last nickel out of trying to be faithful to a system that would use them without thinking twice. And so he called out the traditions and systems of exploitation that literally left widows penniless while others had “surplus wealth.”

Today’s world is not that different from Jesus’ time. We have so many economic systems that leave so many people penniless while others have so much surplus wealth. And he tells his followers, “Don’t be like this!”

Taken together, today’s readings are meant to provide both comfort and challenge. 

They offer comfort because they remind us that, in the end, God’s plan for the world will prevail. They challenge us because they invite us to engage and change the structures that we live in to get us closer to God’s plan…now!

When I think about what Fr. Jim has taught me about how to sing God’s song on earth, I remember that he has taught me that the song of God has two main parts. The first part is to provide comfort to all those who are hurting. Remind people of their goodness. Show people that they are loved and important. 

The second part is to resist and change the systems and powers that do harm to people in the first place. 

And there are many ways to do BOTH of these parts!

As we move forward with our week, may we remember the song of God that has been taught to us. Let us teach it to others, and keep singing it together!

Note: Of course, I’d be remiss if I did not mention that we celebrate Thanksgiving this week. It is such an important holiday for so many of us as we pause and give thanks for the many blesssings that we have. I would also be remiss if I did not mention that, for many of our Indigenous kin, “Thanksgiving” is often known as the “The Day of Mourning” because of all that has been set in motion from the violence of colonization and settler-colonialism. This does not mean that we cannot “celebrate” a holiday that may have much meaning for us. It does, however, mean that we must continue to reckon with and repair the historical realities that we have inherited and take conscious steps to educate ourselves and take meaningful action to address the harm. For some futher reflections, click here.