Our call: Restoration of peace and equality for all

Our call: Restoration of peace and equality for all
 
December 22, 2024
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Helen Weber-McReynolds, RWCP
Baruch 4: 36; 5: 4, 7-9; Hebrews 10: 5-7, 15-16, 18; Luke 1: 57-80

           This week Jeff and I saw the movie Conclave, and I’ve heard many of you say that you have seen it. I will not spoil anything for those of you who have not. It’s about a papal conclave, obviously, an election of a new pope. One of the main tensions that runs through the movie, and, of course, is alive in the church today, is whether it is better to have progressive, reform-minded church leadership, which  will honor the decisions of Vatican II, or to return to the church of the 1950’s, and more authoritarian, hierarchical rule, with less participation of the laity. The first prioritizes the People of God; the second, power and control by ordained men.

           We are, of course, involved in a movement that prioritizes restoration of the practices of the early church, declared vital by Vatican II. We are working to re-emphasize the participation of women as leaders in the early Christian movement, clearly mentioned in the Gospels and letters, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Prisca, Phoebe, Junia, the sisters Martha and Mary, Chloe, Lydia, Euodia, and Syntyche, among others. We believe the Holy Spirit calls and has called people of all genders and sexualities to ministry. We work and pray to restore this kind of equality to our church.

           Our hope of restoration is fueled by scriptures like those we read today. Our first reading promises that God’s Wisdom will restore the people of God from exile. It says that Wisdom will bring justice and relieve sorrow and distress, and that God is leading us with compassion. The beautiful Canticle of Zechariah, in our gospel, announces liberation and wholeness for God’s people, as foretold by the prophets. It reminds us of the faithfulness of God’s covenant, which restores us to holiness and righteousness. He understands his son’s, John’s, vocation to be that of a contemporary prophet, who will draw people closer to God through repentance and conversion. The God Zechariah understands is tender-hearted and forgiving, “making what is wounded whole.”

            Those two readings are very encouraging and comforting. But I find the second reading even more so. This is because it quotes Jeremiah, explaining that, through God’s covenant with us, God’s law of love is our hearts and written on our minds. The writer of Hebrews echoes Jesus’ teachings that because of this internal knowledge of God’s prescribed way of life, sacrifice for forgiveness of sin was no longer necessary. The sacrificial cult of the Temple, and the Temple as the center of Jewish spiritual and ritual life, was such a strong tradition that Jewish and early Christian followers of Jesus evidentially found it hard to grow beyond it. Because Jesus taught that the law is in our hearts and minds, we have grown beyond the idea that Jesus was the ultimate, necessary sacrifice that atones for our sins. We understand that Jesus’ execution was an injustice brought about by jealous, fearful government and religious leaders, and the ultimate act of love. Jesus’ humanity renders us capable of this same strong love; Jesus’ divinity makes us part of God’s unending love. 

​           Wednesday we will commemorate once again, not the death, but the birth of Jesus, not as a king with earthly power and riches, but as one of the poor and marginalized of the world, able to identify with those who are left out and discriminated against. We will remember how our tender-hearted God came to us as one of us, with a human body, and able to understand human suffering, as well as human belonging and joy. We will celebrate once again the hope of restoration of all God’s creatures to wholeness through interdependence and mutual respect and love. We will sing of peace on earth and good will to all. May our participation in this holy observance, and the love we share with family and friends, rekindle our hope that we are called to restoration of peace and equality for all.