Here Am I...

 

ADVENT REFLECTION

Dec. 14, 2025

“Here am I, the servant of the Lord:

let it be with me according to your word.”

Over the past two years, I have participated in many Zoom meetings with the Archbishop of Jerusalem and the diocesan clergy who serve churches in Ramallah and Nablus on the West Bank. The meetings, organized by the Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations were and will continue to be important windows into the work of that Diocese and the massive challenges its archbishop and his clergy face as their communities struggle to regain a life that was abruptly put on hold on October 7, 2023.

These Zoom calls have been heart wrenching. Fr. Fadi, rector of St. Andrew’s in Ramallah, reported that the terror and profound grief experienced throughout the West Bank left all of its citizens “in shock” and in the midst of a deep economic and spiritual crisis. Fr. Fadi’s parishioners wondered aloud in the midst of their prayers for peace, “Why is God silent.” Tears and terror are ongoing, unceasing throughout both day and night.

Fr. Jameel in Nablus reported that his congregation members and indeed the entire community of Nablus proclaimed, “We all need hope”, but then quickly added, “Is there really any hope?”

By the end of each of these Zoom calls we on the U.S. side experience a sense of helplessness as we desperately seek ways in which to journey with these brothers and sisters, all members of the Anglican Communion. All God’s beloved children. These calls have been, and I am certain, will continue to be, profoundly tragic yet unexpectedly spiritually enlightening experiences.

Enlightening because despite the grim reality of their war-torn world Frs. Fadi and Jameel along with their parishioners continue to express a fundamentally deep faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. They display, even in the face of their shockingly grim circumstances, a commitment to Christ that is most incredibly moving.

This deep faith and commitment to Christ was emotionally expressed by Fr. Jameel when he responded to one interviewer’s question, “Will you all want to relocate when it is possible?” saying “No, we will never move. We cannot desert this Holy Land. We cannot abandon Jesus. God is asking us to stay here.”

“We cannot abandon Jesus. God is asking us to stay here.” Very, very powerful words that can only stem from the courage, resilience, commitment, and hope that is based on an extraordinary faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Today we hear the incredibly beautiful and quite wondrous story of a young teenager’s life changed forever by the appearance of the Angel Gabriel. Can you imagine how frightened this innocent unmarried young woman must have been? In a flash her simple and settled life was filled with the unknown. Luke tells us that initially Mary was perplexed. She was stunned and bewildered. Who is this apparition? What is happening to me?

The apparition is the angel Gabriel, a messenger sent by God. The angel sees Mary’s distress and offers calming words, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” The angel then announces that Mary will now become pregnant. That her child will be a son. That he is to be named Jesus and that he is to be called the Son of the Most High. That he will reign over a kingdom. A kingdom that will have no end.

Mary, still perplexed, wonders aloud, “How can this be for I am still a virgin.” The angel responds, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy.”

Can you imagine how frightened and confused this young girl must have been? How terrifying for an apparition to appear from nowhere and to inform you that God will send the Holy Spirit to come you and that as a result you will become pregnant. No marriage. No father. Just a baby who is destined to be, according to the apparition, the Son of God; the Lord of a kingdom that will know no end.

What if an ancient interviewer had asked Mary, “Will you leave this place? Would you prefer to escape from this terrifying new reality that has become your life?” Mary, overwhelmed, terrified, and confused would have answered, “No. Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to his word. 

“Here am I, the servant of the Lord.” Mary’s commitment to God in this one brief sentence echoes the words of so many others tested by God throughout biblical history; Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Moses, Hannah, Samuel, Ruth, David, Esther, and the Prophets to name just a few, and now most certainly the clergy in the Diocese of Jerusalem.  Men and women chosen by God to ensure that his Holy Word, will be a continual presence throughout creation. Men and women who face perplexing, confusing, and terrifying situations with courageous faith saying, God is asking us to stay here; to offer hope to all. God is asking us to ensure that his kingdom will know no end.

Mary’s obedience to God’s call should act as a hallmark for all Christians, the present-day stewards of Christ’s good news, the present-day heralds of God’s desire for us all to live a life filled with peace, hope, and love of self and neighbor, now and to the end of time.

As we encounter frightening and chaotic moments will we flee or will we as Mary say, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be according to his word?” Will we have the courage to act on God’s call for us as we enter a new year which promises to be filled with many unidentified challenges? Both at home, and throughout our global community.

Today we are in the midst of Advent. Four weeks of prayer and reflection during which we anticipate the arrival, once more, of the Christ child, the Son of the Holy One. In just a few short days as Advent comes to a close, we will joyfully celebrate the incarnation of God’s Word, the birth of Jesus Christ, who will walk with and among us as we journey with him to Jerusalem, to the cross, and beyond.

In celebration we will sing many beautiful hymns filled with words of wonder and praise. The service will end, as always, with the 205-year-old hymn Silent Night. As we sing this final hymn, we will light our individual candles in a darkened nave. The candles, of course, represent the Light of Christ. By lighting them we are committing to bring the Light of Christ into the world.

Silent Night, holy night, Son of God, loves pure light radiant beams from thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

Today, as our Advent candles shine brilliantly amidst their bed of evergreens let us pray that we will continue, as God’s community - as Christopher’s, to seek God’s command of how best to be radiant beams of Christ’s holy face, the Light of Christ in the world. How we will face the challenges of the unknown, of the terrifying and take our candles, our little stars of light, out of these four walls and into our community? To shine the light of hope for all those who live in the dark. To ensure that God’s kingdom knows no end.

 

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that, if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore I will trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.   Thomas Merton

 

COMMUNITY

“The church is the church only when it exists for others…not dominating, but helping and serving.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 My very favorite thought in all of Scripture is found in Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. “…so that with the eyes of your heart enlightened you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.” (Eph: 1:18)

This one brief but exquisitely poetic phrase summarizes brilliantly all that I have been pondering in my mind over the past several months. Rather jarring thoughts that have emerged as I along with many others seek ways in which the church can adapt and become increasingly relevant in the complex global context in which we live.

In doing this work of discernment I have turned not only to the wisdom of scripture, but also to the compelling voices of several current day theologians who bring to the forefront the urgent need for the church, God’s community, to do the work of flinging open its doors and emerging into solid partnership with a world greatly disturbed but also a world seeking peace.

So…let’s have a look at what has been said by a select few about the mission of God’s beloved people, and importantly, what these thoughts might mean for the people of St. Christopher’s today.

Paul was in prison in Rome around AD 62 when he wrote his Letter to the Ephesians. He began with this exquisite phrase “…so that with the eyes of your heart enlightened… you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.” 

Dr. Kwok Pui Lan, Dean's Professor of Systematic Theology and Special Advisor to the Dean for Strategic Changes at Candler School of Theology, at It’s All About Love, a recent conference sponsored by the Episcopal Church, passionately preached, “Awake, Arise, Act!”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer just before his death in Flossenberg concentration camp wrote in his book, Ethics, “[The moral life is] an ongoing process of discernment that listens for and responds to the reality of Christ in the world.”

The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a speech given at the Nelson Mandela Freedom Rally in London's Hyde Park, July 17, 1988, cried out to the thousands who had gathered to hear him speak, “Go forth to make the world a better place for you can make a difference. The task is daunting – of course, but it is a necessary struggle.” 

“Awake, Arise, Act…” 

“…so that with the eyes of your heart enlightened you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.”

And then, “Go forth to make the world a better place.” 

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians reassures a small, ragged, and struggling community that in recognizing Christ as Lord their church becomes a spirit-filled community that brings the power and the presence of God to the world. A community that becomes the body of Christ and works toward the reestablishment of God’s sovereignty over creation. All are reconciled to God – ALL.

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Eph 4:1-4)

“Finally, be strong in the Lord…put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Eph 6:10-11)

Throughout Ephesians Paul underscores again and again the importance of awaking to and acting upon God’s call. The calling to which I, you, we have been called; enduring with love and patience the hardships encountered in going forth as God’s community as we participate in the creation of a better world.       

Dr. Kwok Pui Lan’s exhortation to Awake, Arise, and Act that rang through the convention center at the It’s All About Love conference and Archbishop’s Tutu’s passionate directive to “Go forth…” broadcast to thousands of South Africans suffering under the weight of apartheid both speak to the imperative of initiating long overdue acts of reconciliation. Reconciliation between the Episcopal Church, God’s beloved community, and the many peoples that continue to carry the burden of racism, discrimination, injustice, violence, and the agony of poverty. People who continue to be counted as “less than”, not fully human, unworthy.

Reconciliation that supports equality and justice for all. Reconciliation that brings about a community united by God’s love for all his beloved children.

These stunningly powerful statements demand that we St. Christopher’s Awake, Arise, Act, and Go Forth to make Jesus and his saving grace known throughout the world. They demand that as a community we partner with God’s world to share the love of Jesus; to bring peace to God’s eternal kingdom.

This work is not easy, but it is imperative if the Good News of Jesus Christ is once again to become the central guidepost of our lives.

Paul concludes his Letter to the Ephesians as he writes, “Stand firm…and fasten the belt of truth around your waist and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace…take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph 10:13-17) 

Currently we are in the midst of our annual stewardship drive – Rooted in Love, Nurturing Love, Harvesting Hope. Whether large or small, your pledge is a way of saying, “I’m part of this community, and I share in its life and work.” Each pledge will support St. Christopher’s call to enter into God's kingdom work.

Awake, Arise, Act. Put on the whole armor of God and shoes for your feet that will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace…the word of God.

 

 Shalom, Clelia+

 

Is Anything Too Wonderful for the Lord?

 

 

Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? (Gen 18:14) 

In the past writing my monthly contribution for the Lantern has been an easy and joyful task. These monthly articles have given me the opportunity to share with you some of the many thoughts and questions that continually swirl in my daily reflections on the challenges and commitments that face us all as we strive, each in our own ways, to be disciples of Christ in a world that is fast spinning into a concerning unknown.

This month’s contribution, however, has been a definite challenge. Thoughts refuse to assemble easily and neatly onto the page as I struggle to grasp the fast-paced and concerning challenges that emerge each day in an increasingly troubled and chaotic world. In my confusion and concern I have held tightly onto Walter Brueggemann’s chapter, “Ministry Among: The Power of Blessing, in his recently published book, Grace Abounds.

In this chapter, filled with relevant quotes from the Old Testament, Brueggemann makes the point that “While blessing is [understood] as a life-force that produces generative, productive material prosperity that is intrinsic to life-processes themselves, blessing can be bestowed, transferred from one party to another in an almost palpable way. Here we move into a mystery of life that does not admit of scientific or technical explanation. We are closer to a sacramental expression of reality, whereby those who possess God’s life-force in abundance can share and distribute it among others who may be deficient in what is needed for life.” (p. 113)

Just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness’, so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.’ For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed. (Gal 3:6-9)

Brueggemann goes on, “The purpose of blessing is not to enhance Israel, nor even to accent the importance of God. It is rather that the community should “work” as more and more people are included in the power of blessing, and so are freed of the dread, deathly force of curse…Thus I propose that “ministry among” consists, as it did for the for the ancestors, in being visibly available with the life-force of a viable future of shalom that will energize and evoke participation by others who still hold other ideological loyalties.” (p. 115)

The blessing of “ministry among” being the key life-force for those who are suffering is at this particular moment in time of critical importance to those of us who seek to identify a path forward. A path that leads to shalom. A path that offers blessing, the blessing that God bestowed on Abraham when he said, “All Gentiles shall be blessed in you.”

Now, more than ever before it is essential that we who are blessed enact our blessing through being “among” those who suffer, bestowing on them, transferring to them the blessing of God’s shalom, of Christ’s compassion, and of our commitment to follow Christ always and in all ways.

It is our call to be a blessing. To offer the blessing of being “among” those who suffer just as the incarnation gave us the blessed gift of Jesus “among” us. This being “among” is not easy and does not necessarily calm the nerves. But it does bring hope to those who suffer and in bringing hope to others, we begin to experience a spark of hope within ourselves, and that spark allows us to move forward continuing our blessed presence in the world. Despite all challenges that is our call – to be a blessing to all.

“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”
― Thomas Merton

Brueggemann, Thomas, Grace Abounds. Westminster John Knox Press, Kentucky. 2024