Pass it
On
(A
Glimmer of Hope Throughout History)
The Great Vigil
Christ Church Poughkeepsie
26 March 2005
The Rev. Richard C. Witt Jr.
Imagine
before you were born - a darkness, nothing, no memory
And then a glimmer of love - perhaps your mom smiled, or
your dad cracked a joke. . .
Whatever, things were off and running and there you were!
Along the
way others have helped raised you
Offering wisdom - sharing love and guidance
Providing support - making life possible
Sharing their love with you
Through
the years you’ve had your moments:
a bit rambunctious - a little testing here and there
a few times where you needed to be reigned in
a few mistakes along the way - a couple of big ones as
well
Nevertheless
here you are today - and even in spite of the difficulties, you are here -
bearing the gift and grace of love.
It’s time
to pass that love on.
*
* * *
Our
gathering tonight comes roughly two thousand years after the crucifixion. That is a lot of time - a lot of people - of
events - of pain, sorrow, joy and hope.
We are
here tonight in the name of tradition, for we are a part of a tradition - We
are a part of history - God’s history.
Tonight’s
liturgy captures that history - Our history.
The liturgy is a reminder to us of where we have come from
It is long and complex, because our history is long and
complex
It is rich and full because not only is our history rich
and full, but God is richer and fuller
We began with darkness - and then
a small flickering light. It is the
darkness and the light of Genesis - It is the darkness and light of our history
and our existence. And through the reading of Genesis we are reminded that our
creation and the creation of our world is good. “God saw everything that God
had made, and indeed it was very good” (Genesis 1:31) It was what the
theologian Matthew Fox has called the Original Blessing. . . . . . . .
. . This is essential to keep in
mind - because it reminds us that we are inherently good.
We continued on through Scripture
- And Scripture reminds us through the Exodus that our God is a liberating God,
a God of justice. And, therefore we are
called to be a people of justice.
Justice can be defined as when things are in right order and relationship
- when the sanctity of life is honored and cherished - when we see the full
humanity of all and we treat each other equally.
And so
the Law is given to us to guide us, to remind us, to keep us rooted in our
Blessing.
But, just as it was like in our
own growing up - Our fore-parents had difficulty trusting and fear crept in and
overcame them - an experience that confounds us to this day. And so we hear the words of the Eucharistic
Prayer: “We turned against you, and betrayed your trust; and we turned
against one another.” And then: “Time
and time you called us to return. Through Prophets and sages you revealed your
righteous law”
Throughout history that call of
love has been present. The light has always been present - unrequited, always
forgiving, always hopeful. At times dim,
at time brilliant - but always present.
That love comes forth in an
ultimate gift - the gift of a son - of Jesus - God incarnate - God real - God
present - present in the midst of the fears - always hopeful, always loving,
always an alternative to evil. We will
conclude tonight’s liturgy with the Eucharist, as we see to the extent that God
is willing to love us.
*
* * *
* *
In a
moment we will once again root ourselves in that love through the Renewal of
our Baptismal Vows. And we will remind
ourselves that we are not alone - through the Prayers of the People.
In doing
so we will remind ourselves that the flame of Love is now in our hands and we
must share it, we must pass it on. As
Margaret Mead, the anthropologist once said: “Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world, Indeed, it’s the only
thing that ever has.”
It all
began with two followers: Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus reaching out to
take care of the body of Jesus - in the face of tremendous animosity. And then the women at the tomb the next
proclaiming that Christ had risen. And
then a small band of disciples proclaiming the good news. Each person taking this flame of love and passing
it on. As the old youth group song goes:
“It
only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm to
it glowing. . . That’s how it is with God’s Love - once you’ve experienced it -
you want to pass it on.
And so
history and the flame of love arrive at Christ Church, Poughkeepsie on Saturday
evening, March 24th 2005.
The flame has made it. Take it and
pass it on.