Isaiah 65:17-25
Romans 12:9-18
Rev. Ha Na Park, Immanuel United Church, Winnipeg
Thank you, Alison, for sharing today’s sacred texts with us. In today’s reading, God declares “I am about to create new heavens and a new earth. The former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight.”
I will begin by asking you to wonder: What is the world like that God has created, is creating, and will yet create?
What would a new heaven and a new earth be like? What would it be like for us, humans and all creation, to exist as fully ourselves, unchanged from the original design that God created and put in us, in our living and loving, in our breathing and speaking, “peaceably with all”, between the new heavens and a new earth?
Barriers are moved. Divisions are erased. Discordance is transformed to harmony. Can you imagine such a world? The prophet Isaiah states that the longing for such a glorious new creation of diversity and peace, a thing so beautiful it seems like a dream, exists not just as possibility, but in the present time: “It’s going to happen. See the world God is creating.” This is the world where no one hurts or is hurt, nobody destroys or is destroyed. It is a world of unlikely paradise, life-affirming peace.
This year, finally, spring arrived here in Winnipeg. One late morning, I opened the door, got out of my house and into to the world, and just stood there. My front yard was fully warmed up with an incredible amount of sunshine - I was amazed. It wasn’t just the light; I couldn’t believe what I was hearing: the songbirds' chorus. Angelic. Enchanting. Chickadees and those divas that sing “Vivi vava.” (I do not know their names). I thought, “These small creatures sing, each one of them, in their own different notes and ways, and yet each of them sounds perfectly in tune, lending harmony and peace to our ears. That must mean that the nature of God, who has created and is creating these songbirds, is summed up by all the harmony, peace, beauty and magnificence we see in the world.”
Peace is the presence of God within us, which we Christians call, Holy Spirit. Some theologians call peace, the Holy Spirit, uncreated grace. Today, we gather to remember Lorna, to celebrate and honour the gifts Lorna shared with many of us. Because of Lorna, we have learned to appreciate the uncreated grace, the presence of peace and the deep reverence of harmony, in many things Lorna admired, lived, offered, and shared with us in her life.
I came to Immanuel two years ago as the new minister, and it is truly my honour to be asked to officiate this celebration by Lorna’s family, which includes Nancy, Lorna’s third daughter and my predecessor as minister here. I thank you, Nancy, for accepting me as you and your mother's minister. I am honoured.
Since coming to Immanuel, I met Lorna in three different places. The first was at her home at Ember Meadow, with Joan. The second meeting was in a room in Seven Oaks hospital with both Muriel and Joan. Three of us shared communion and each of us shared our prayers. That was a touching and God-filled moment. The last meeting was at the ER. Each time was very special, because Lorna was a very special, warm, welcoming, thoughtful and wise person. During our last meeting at the ER, after a lovely half-hour talk, Lorna looked at me and said, “My family told me you would share a prayer with me.” I was delighted to pray with Lorna, but inside, I assumed that it might be a signal for me to leave. When I finished my prayer, she held my hand gently and asked, “Could you stay and share a few more words with me?” Her eyes sparkled a bit and her shy smile was very inviting, showing her happiness in engaging in further talk with her visitor.
I’ve heard Lorna described as a very kind lady (very “sweet”) who may look a bit shy at first, very bright, with an even brighter smile, a person who welcomed those around her with genuine interest in getting to know about each of them. However, it seems to me that if we think that’s all there was to Lorna, we miss her other qualities.
While many live and exist in a comfortable, convenient and complacent bubble, Lorna knew, developed awareness of and witnessed her inner sense of discomfort with the injustice and unfairness that are present in the world. In the depths of herself, Lorna refused to let go of that sense of incongruence. Lorna studied, learned from books, brought these injustices up in conversation with her family and friends - things like climate change. It is important for me to note that Lorna’s compassion came from this sense of incongruence and discomfort. Lorna’s defence of the underdog, her persistent concern for the well-being of the world, and her compassion towards those individuals and vulnerable groups who were affected most were as much a part of her as her bright smile.
In all three conversations, Lorna mentioned people from other countries. A couple of the individuals mentioned were the writer of a book she had been reading (an author with refugee experience who had experienced incredible danger and violence) and her doctor from South Africa. What impressed me most was, whenever Lorna mentioned them, it was with real recognition - genuine acknowledgment and appreciation. It was the warm recognition of the experience and the status of the “Other” who has had a different life experience of migration and adversity. Lorna always showed open-mindedness, with a passionate interest in diversity. And while doing so, she never quizzed me about my ethnicity, experience and culture, a reticence which proved to me her intelligence and integrity. (And now I remember one of the three things Lorna prayed for at communion: Immigration and immigrants.)
As a woman with promising career (which she discontinued after her marriage, as it was customary in the 50’s), as a mother, as a fully human being, as a child of God, Lorna was keen to look for meanings in all things, and knew fun. Indeed, she enjoyed many moments with lots of fun in her life. Lorna knew the importance of having quality time with her loved ones, for having fun, letting joy lead her life and others’. Yet, at the same time, from her life, I learn the importance of putting certain things before others: the need of a better future for all over the abundance of the present for the smallest number of people.
I would say, Lorna is the mirror of ourselves, with an interest in all creation and a true and genuine intention to love. Her curiosity to know the uncreated grace of God in all things, in animals and plants, reflects the best part of us. The feeling of discomfort when we witness and experience what is not right, what is not honourable, what is unjust and evil, what is not peace – that existed in Lorna and it exists in us. When we hope for a different world, when we imagine what living and existing as fully ourselves, between a new heaven and a new earth would be like, we are thinking like Lorna. We all possess the sensitivity to care for and extend welcome to those whose peace is disturbed because they are not treated with kindness and understanding. We all have empathy - - the human capacity of being able to “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” But it is our choice to ignore that sensitivity, that empathy or to nurture it, to really look at the world around us – like Lorna did.
Remembering Lorna’s life, gifts and teaching, we learn that action and advocacy are very important, but love takes precedence over political discomfort. God’s uncreated grace in us enables us to make room and open room for all, friends, enemies and strangers, and welcome them. The remembrance of Lorna’s gifts and words are a constant reminder for her family, and for all of us, that we do not have time to waste our precious life moments with remaining in discord; we need to love others. Love our siblings, love our children, loving our partners and spouses, loving our neighbours, loving our friends, loving strangers, and loving ourselves. To truly uphold and honour Lorna’s life, let us be both dreamer and actor in this space of sacred thinness between the heavens and a green new earth. Let’s not waste time but dream, hope, have faith and express love to the fullest. Amen.
Choir Anthem Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace)
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