23rd Sunday after Pentecost-The Rev Melanie Lemburg

 23^rd Sunday after Pentecost-Proper 27A

November 8, 2020

        When I was going through the process to become a priest, I had to answer a series of questions about my personality and my theology.  One of these questions that I’ve been thinking about lately is “How are you with uncertainty?”

        It’s really a horrible question, and I have no idea how I even answered it in all my 25-year old glory.  How are you with uncertainty?  Over the years, I’ve pondered why they would even ask us this question:  How are you with uncertainty?  And the older I get, the more I realize they ask us this question:  “how are you with uncertainty?” because nothing, really, is ever certain.

        Our readings highlight that for us today.  The community in Thessolonika are upset because they had expected Jesus’s imminent return, and yet some of their community have died before Jesus has returned.  Paul seeks to reassure them in their uncertainty.

        And Jesus, near the end of his earthly ministry, tells a parable that is all about uncertainty and about how different people deal with it.  Some people, who he calls “wise,” try to be as prepared as possible for uncertainty, while others, who he calls “foolish,” find themselves unprepared for uncertainty, and as a result, end up being locked out of the party. 

        We who are no strangers to uncertainty, this week, this last 7 months….We might wonder what we must do to be prepared for uncertainty?  And really that’s the better question, isn’t it?  Not so much “how are you with uncertainty?”  (“Fine?” she says uncertainly?)  But really how do you prepare for uncertainty, in your life, in the world around you?  What are the spiritual practices that you deploy during times of uncertainty, and what are the spiritual practices that you normally access to strengthen your spiritual muscles for when you must face uncertainty?

        Jesus parable has a hint for us there, too.  One of the spiritual practices we can deploy in both uncertain and in more stable times is to be surprised by joy.  Because that’s what the wedding banquet is; it’s an invitation to be surprised by the joyful, unexpected, and long-awaited presence of the bridegroom.  It is the invitation that all, the wise and the foolish, have received to the joyful occasion that is the wedding banquet, and it is the reminder that we must position ourselves so that we are fully present when the party starts, and not racing around looking for that which is unimportant to try to stave off our own anxiety and uncertainty and unpreparedness.   

        So, what are ways that we might be surprised by joy?  One of those is through a regular practice of thanksgiving.  A few weeks ago, we began the annual giving campaign here at St. Thomas which is titled:  Sheltering St. Thomas: Giving in Gratitude.  It has been such a gift to me to listen to how different parishioners are grateful for the life and ministry of this place, and their stories continue to feed and nurture my own gratitude.  Also, for the rest of this month, we’ll be doing the litany of thanksgiving that is found in our BCP to help us strengthen our gratitude muscles.  It’s something that you could make as a daily practice during this season if you are so inclined. 

Another way to be surprised by joy is to do something creative.  The creative process is chock-full of uncertainty.  You never know exactly how the creative process is going to turn out, and for me this week, I’ve found creative outlets in the humble and mundane practices of singing and cooking.  I was also delighted this week with Peggy V’s video where she talks about how they’ve been surprised by joy through creatively connecting with St. Thomas during this past summer. 

The third way is by paying attention to what is going on around you. When we are fully present in the moment (as opposed to be checked out in our own worries or on our phones, we are more likely to be surprised by the goodness of what is in our immediate vicinity.  And the fourth and final way to be open to being surprised by joy in the midst of uncertainty is in remembering and giving thanks for joyful moments from the past.  This past week, Jim Joyce has offered me a wonderful example of this in his Facebook series “Project Spread Joy” where he’s been sharing photos that are chock full of the joy from their life together.

        Your invitation this week, in the face of uncertainty, is to reflect on how you prepare for uncertainty and how you deal with it in the moment, and to create space for you to be surprised by joy.