11/24/2019 - Becca Griffin Sermon - "Being Still" - Brookmeade Congregational UCC, Nashville, TN

Brookmeade congregational church, ucc*

“still”

Becca Griffin

Reign of christ Sunday, Last sunday after pentecost, next sunday starts advent

Introduction:

Brenda Perez, a fellow divinity student

community organizer,

Daca recipient, having come to the US with her family at 6,

she is an advocate for immigration reform

she tells a story about a nonviolent protest, a disruption

            she was a part of at one of the detention centers where they were bussing in children.

            the group she was there with wanted to cause disruption, to protest, but didn’t want to scare the children or stress them more than they already were…

            So, they drew a Quetzal, native bird to guatemala, a symbol on the coin which it’s named after, and the bird on the guatemalan flag. it’s a beautiful bird with a long tail—it looks magical and it’s bright and these advocates for immigration reform knew it would be familiar for a child immigrating, seeking asylum, scared and away from home.  they drew the quetzal and wrote things  like “you’re not alone” on signs as they waved at the children and made funny or kind faces until the children were inside.  then they continued a protest where they barricaded the road, disrupting what is happening at detention centers, protesting immigration, seeking immigration reform.  before more direct and, perhaps, aggressive protest, there was a moment of stillness, paradise with these children and the quetzal and the protestors who took a moment to consider these vulnerable children caught up in the middle of a time of violence.

BIBLE, CHURCH STUFF (LITURGICAL), BOOK

 Days' Readings:  Psalm 46 (Be Still and Know that I am God), Luke 22:33-43

Today is the reign of christ sunday (according to the revised common lectionary).  what does the reign of christ look like? how is it depicted in what we read today in the  reading of scripture?  in luke 22:33-43, as christ and others are being executed, during this time of violence, a snapshot into christ’s interaction. 

See daniel erlander’s depiction of this moment in manna and mercy: a brief history of god’s unfolding promise to mend the entire universe. p. 56 (or skip ahead)

we find jesus, with those condemned by empire

which seeks to maintain itself through violence, war at the cost of life, at any cost

in the midst of such a time of violence, jesus, still, says to another receiving the death penalty,

“today you will be with me in paradise,”

you are not alone

this violence will come to an end

you are not eternally a criminal

BEING STILL

this is what “still”ness means

what it means to “be still” according to psalm 46

in zion, the unshaken residence of god—paradise—in contrast to the tumultuous,

calm, where there is enough room for everyone

zion, this place of stillness is “not just defeating violence”

but ending war

this is what “still” means in psalm 46

“Be still”

“stop what you are doing and embrace what the peace of yahweh has achieved”

zion is the place

paradise is the place

the residence of god

is most visible and most appropriately praised

when there is no more violence

and there is an end to war

what does it mean that the reign of looks like

a rabbi (jesus was a rabbi) proclaiming that the one who the state condemns to death is the one who belongs in the house of God, right now, not in the future

those condemned are those in whom christ finds friendship

and shares friendship

and this is where we find christ

this is what the reign of christ

what “being still” looks like, an end to violence, an end to war,

standing in awe when there are no more children in detention centers

for that will mean we have found zion

paradise,

that will mean we have made it

to god’s house

and that vision

when it is achieved,

will be a day worthy of great thanksgiving

we’re on our way

this  thanksgiving

may we be mindful of the peace of god that is possible

of friendship

grateful

for what we have

sharing it how we can

inviting those condemned or outcast into

stillness

this is what it means to “be still”

LOOKING INWARD:

may we seek out news stories of where folks like brenda perez and others are working for things like immigration reform,

“for the babies” as brenda says

to get babies out of cages

may we seek out new of that kind of zion

where the death penalty does not have the final word

this is the reign of christ

come behold the works of the lord

may our times of devotion find us caught up

and in awe as wars and violence come to an end

may we be part of the house of god, forever

sharing paradise with christ and those condemned

 ENDING:

i am grateful for what this place, brookmeade, means for me

as one condemned by some, excluded in ways, marginalized for part of my identity

where i have found an end to wars of shame

that can be deadly for some

may we continue such work here and in our lives

inviting folks into paradise

seeking and asking for paradise to come, too,

demanding it

for ourselves and others as well

may our marching to zion end with no violence and with smiles

for this is what it means to “be still”