Today’s texts from the prophet Jeremiah, the Psalms, and St. Matthew’s Gospel offer us conflict, chaos, anger and violence, difficult realities which may reflect the way in which we experience our society today, but 180 degrees from where my mind is at the beginning of this week.
This morning I finally had a chance to open the June edition of The Christian Century. On page ten I found these numbers:
As of May 3, there were 14, 191 gun-related deaths in the US in 2023.
6,073 of those deaths were homicides.
8,118 were suicides.
Only 360 of the total gun deaths were committed in self-defense.
As we have talked recently about “year-round stewardship” I remembered a suggestion once made, only half in jest, that the Church move St. Matthew’s Day on the liturgical calendar from September 21 to April 15 and refocus our stewardship emphasis, beginning on that day and continuing through the month of May. We can give thanks for Matthew the Tax Collector, the IRS, and all tax collecting bodies for truly making us aware of our financial health and stewardship.
Have you noticed when we come to this time in the Church Year, we seem focus on telling stories – the story of Passover, of the valley of dry bones, of the Last Supper, of the Crucifixion, of the empty tomb, of the road to Emmaus, of Christ’s appearance to Thomas and the Twelve, of the breakfast Christ prepares at the lakeshore…? It seems that theological discourse and confessional propositions are inadequate for capturing the mysteries which fill this season. We push it all aside, sit back, and tell the stories of our tradition.
n an episode of the television series “Young Sheldon” the famously germophobic child genius is hospitalized overnight following emergency gallbladder surgery. Due to his anxiety about the setting in which he finds himself, Sheldon is unable to fall asleep. His harassed and aggravated nurse suggests he try counting sheep. Sheldon acknowledges the suggestion but reports the intervention would be ineffective for him. He is afraid of barnyard animals.
Gun violence in our country is a public health crisis. This year (as of February 4) there have been 4,297 gun violence deaths, including 2,442 suicides. There have been 107 gun deaths resulting from the defensive use of a weapon. There have been 60 mass shootings. (Source: Gun Violence Archive)
I think Judy and I have decided that 2023 is the year we will return to New Orleans. We visited the city many years ago and it has remained on my “bucket list” as a city I want to see again. It is a remarkable city. A resilient community. Despite crime, poverty, corruption, and devastating storms, it is a city with spirit. It is a welcoming city that has a lot to celebrate and knows how to party.
The past three years have seen more conversation about and struggle with racial injustice than we have seen at any time since the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Caring Connections, an ejournal published by Lutheran chaplains, pastoral counselors, and clinical educators, made a contribution to the conversation in its September 2020 issues, “Reflections on Racial Justice.” Following below is an edited version of my personal response to Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility, published in that issue. I commend the book to you.
Pastor John Schumacher, BCC
I am pleased to know we already have one St. Luke’s participant registered for the Bishop Anderson House Spiritual Care Visitor Training which begins with a full-day retreat on Saturday, March 25, at St. Luke’s. While the registration deadline is March 13, the time to sign up is now. Information about this ministry opportunity has been sent out to the Park Ridge Ministerial Association which is co-sponsoring this training. In addition, Bishop Anderson House has put the St. Luke’s training on its website, so registration information is out there for the entire metro Chicago community. Participation will be capped at twenty people and we would like to see a strong St. Luke’s cohort. A timely response is important.
Have you ever made an altar flower delivery or a communion visit for St. Luke’s? Have you ever stopped for a “friendly visit” with someone living in a nursing home? Have you ever dropped in to spend time with a friend or neighbor who is dealing with an on-going health issue or new diagnosis? Have you ever wanted to reach out but felt hesitant and unsure about what to do or say?