The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

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The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 15), 15 August 2004
Jeremiah 23:23-29, Hebrews 12:1-7 (8-10) 11-14, Luke 12: 49-56
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT

“For all the saints who from their labors rest” make up part of that great cloud of witnesses the writer to the Hebrews praises. Like you and I they make up the great body of faithful who have been part of our story from the beginning to today. And this week we have two especially moving individuals who are in a very special way part of that great cloud of witnesses, for in very unique ways they stepped out of their comfort zone to follow the call of God in their lives. On Saturday we remembered the witness of Jonathan Myrick Daniels and today is the feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let me share briefly a bit about each of them and why I wanted us to remember them in preaching and in prayer today.

We have so many layers of legend and myth as well as images of art concerning Mary of Nazareth that we can easily forget that her story unfolds as an unwed, pregnant teenager living in a small village. Instead of, “Hail Mary full of grace the Lord is with you?” I'm sure she more often was subject to whispered remarks about, “Did you hear about that girl Mary?” Engaged to an older man, now pregnant, was she playing Joseph to be the fool? I'm sure she was subject to her share of gossip.

But Mary was a very faithful and courageous young woman. She stepped out of her comfort zone when she replied to the angel Gabriel, “I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” From that point she entered into the Incarnation in a unique way and was part of her son's ministry from his birth to the end when she stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus then reached out to care for her by providing for her well-being through John, the beloved disciple. She was a witness to the resurrection of her son. She continued with the disciples and later according to tradition settled in Ephesus with John the Beloved. She has a special and honored place above all the other saints in the tradition of the church.

Jonathan Myrick Daniels was a seminarian at the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of our own. He heard and answered the invitation from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to come to Selma, Alabama, to support the efforts to register black people to vote and to demonstrate against the deep ingrained segregation of black and white people. He took a leave of absence from his seminary studies to work in the civil rights movement.

On August 14, 1965, Jonathan and seven black teenagers were arrested and jailed for this activity. Six days later they were unexpectedly released with no explanation and no transportation. On that unbelievably hot August day, as they tried to decide what to do, four of them stopped at a small cash store to buy a cold drink. Ruby Sales, a 16-year old African-American reached the top step of the entrance first. Before she could go in, a white deputy sheriff came to the door armed with a shotgun cursing her. Jonathan pulled her to one side to shield her from the unexpected threats. As a result, he was killed instantly by a blast from a 12-gauge shotgun. Jonathan Daniels was 26-years old. Later, the deputy, in what passed then for a trial, was exonerated on a plea of self-defense and set free.

Jonathan's goal in life was to be an Episcopal priest, instead he is remembered as a martyr of the church. Ironically he had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary and their feast days are next to each other on our calendar. Jonathan had also stepped out of his comfort zone of safety in seminary, to join the civil rights movement. In so doing he stepped into the arms of his Savior as he protected one of Christ's own.

These two young people, a teenage girl and a 26-yr old seminarian, responded in faith by stepping out of their comfort zone and heeding the invitation of their God to ministry. Note that these are young people. The saints of God who step out to follow the call of God with their lives, are moved by faith and a sense of God's call to them, not necessarily by years of experience and learning.

This week we remember Mary of Nazareth and Jonathan Myrick Daniels. Two young people chosen by God for a special witness to the Incarnation of Christ: one in giving Jesus birth, the other in giving his life for another person.

None of us are called to the unique ministry of the Virgin Mary. Few are called to martyrdom for our beliefs as was Jonathan Myrick Daniels. But did you know that you are already are a saint of God through your baptism? Can you hear Christ's invitation for you to join him in ministry? Where is your comfort zone? What is keeping you from answering Christ's invitation? Jesus invites us to step out of our comfort zone and to join him in ministry. And fear not, we are not alone. His hands are strong to hold. Christ's body in the world, the church, is strong to support.

This week, give thanks for the lives of Mary and Jonathan, for their witness, their faith and their courage to step out of their comfort zone to follow the call of God.