Bishop Brian Cole commends the following sermon by the Rt. Rev. Phoebe Roaf, Bishop of West Tennessee, from the Province IV synod gathering at Kanuga this year.
Remarks at 2024 Province IV Synod, Kanuga Conference Center – May 8, 2024
Lessons for Julian of Norwich: Isaiah 46:3-5; Hebrews 10:19-24; Psalm 27:5-11; John 4:23-26
May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.
Today we celebrate the feast of Julian of Norwich, a 15th century Christian monastic. Norwich was an important British commercial center with an active religious community. During Julian’s lifetime, the city suffered the devastating effects of the Black Death pandemic and the Peasants’ Revolt which affected large parts of England. This was an era of great turmoil and suffering. It is believed that the pandemic was responsible for the deaths of Julian’s husband and children.
When she was 30, Julian became so sick that she received last rites. She then had a series of visions of the passion of Christ and when she recovered, she wrote two versions of her experiences.
Years later, Julian became an anchoress. Living in permanent seclusion in a room attached to a local church, she devoted her life to reading, writing and prayer. Julian described her relationship with Christ as that of a mother and child. She said: “God chose to be our mother in all things, and so made the foundation of his work most humbly and most pure, in the Virgin’s womb. God, the perfect wisdom of all, arrayed himself in this humble place. Christ came in our poor flesh to share our mother’s care. Our mothers bear us for pain and for death; our true mother, Jesus, bears us for joy and endless life.”
What a beautiful vision she presented – to be in relationship with Jesus whose desire for us is joy and endless life. It took great courage on Julian’s part to hold onto joy in the midst of suffering. Although she experienced devastating losses, she remained hopeful by focusing on God’s love and compassion and through her relationships with others.
Brothers and sisters, every generation faces challenges and the same is true for us. As we prepare for General Convention, we have been charged with the responsibility of grappling with significant issues facing the church. These include how to define what the book of common prayer is, considering the clergy disciplinary process, possible changes to health insurance for church employees, and who the Holy Spirit is calling to lead the Episcopal Church for the next 9 years. I don’t know about you but it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when the issues we are facing seem so vast.
Julian’s life provides an important reminder not to give up when things are tough. As we heard in the epistle, we can hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, not because of our own righteousness or effort, but because the one who has promised is faithful. The source of our strength is Christ Jesus’ eternal love and the promise of God’s presence.
Julian wrote, “[God] did not say you will not be assailed, you will not be belabored, you will not be disquieted, but he did say you will not be overcome.” When I feel assailed or belabored or disquieted, I remember that I am in ministry with all of you. If I reach out via a text or phone call, you’ll respond. Your friendship makes all of this a lot easier so that I don’t feel overcome by the weight of my responsibilities.
We will gather in Louisville in six weeks for General Convention. I wonder how our time in Phoenix in 2027 might look different? Because we aren’t the United States Congress, sisters and brothers. We are the church, the body of Christ commissioned to speak a word of hope, to invite folk who have never experienced the love of Jesus to taste and see what Jesus is all about. However, it’s easy to get confused about our purpose.
According to the draft schedule, the majority of the time we will be in Louisville has been allocated for legislation, not prayer or bible study or time to build relationships with deputies from other dioceses. Many of the issues on our agenda have been debated for years. Clearly, these are things we care deeply about, but I don’t think they will be resolved by passing hundreds of resolutions.
I’d love to participate in a General Convention where the first half of every day was spent in worship, in small group bible study and in listening to one another’s stories, then blessing the people of the city we are visiting? To get outside of the convention center and serve folk in the local community who have never heard of the Episcopal Church. Where we limited the number of resolutions so that we can have time for meaningful conversation and deliberation. Where we mutually discern what God is asking of us in a spirit of curiosity and humility. Where we enter into this work assuming the best of the other house, not the worst.
Sisters and brothers, we’re on the same team.
As members of the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops, it’s incumbent upon us to be better partners and collaborators in ministry, to trust one another as joint laborers in God’s vineyard. Because everyone loses when we’re at odds with one another.
As one of my brother bishops said this morning, a house built on sand can’t survive. We need a firm foundation, the cornerstone that the builders rejected, the rock which is Jesus. And the people who can begin to change our current dynamic are sitting in this room. Province IV, we can model a new way of being the body of Christ. Because what we’ve been doing is no longer serving us. Jesus Christ didn’t die so that I could pass a resolution. No, Jesus died so that we might have abundant life, filled with meaning and purpose.
Consider Julian’s life. She connected with others through individual conversations, personal correspondence, and above all by her commitment to prayer. Remaining connected to God through prayer was the most important thing to Julian. Perhaps this 15th century monastic has something important to teach us about being a 21st century disciple. We would do well to follow her example.
Let us pray.
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Photo credit: The Rt. Rev. Frank Logue, Diocese of Georgia