“Freedom and Love”
Text: St. John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another,
as I have loved you … you are my friend, if you do what
I command.”
The motif and theme for this solemnity of blessed Absalom Jones, is summed up in the collect for the day – freedom and love. “Set us free, heavenly Father ….” – free from bondage, From sin and evil, yes, but also free from the bondage of prejudice and fear. Throughout the Gospel, we read the words, “fear not”, and throughout the Gospel, and that which soaks the Gospel, is love. “Thou shalt love.” Peoples and nations cry out and strive for freedom, but freedom rooted and grounded in truth and love. “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, the Life.” Ye shall know Jesus Christ, and He will make you free.
Absalom Jones was born into slavery in Delaware, and gained his freedom in Philadelphia. It would seem that in the 18th century Philadelphia, just about the time of the American independence, Christians, black and white, free and slave worshipped together in the same church, that seemed to be true at St. George’s Methodist Church. Absalom Jones and Richard Allen were leaders within the Black community and evangelists. The increase in Black membership so alarmed the vestry, that they decided to segregate Blacks to the balcony .In the midst of prayer, the ushers demanded that they move. They moved alright. Led by Absalom Jones and Richard Allen, they walked straight out the door. They formed the Free African Society, which began to build a church. That new congregation applied for membership in the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, provided they would be received as an organized body; that they would control their own affairs; and Absalom Jones be licensed as lay reader, and if possible and qualified, ordained into the Episcopal ministry.
I have often asked why they chose the Episcopal Church? Not all agreed, for Richard Allen preferred to remain in the Methodist tradition. He and a small group left to establish a new denomination, the African Methodist Episcopal (AME), beginning with Bethel Church, still flourishing in downtown Philadelphia, and known as Mother Bethel.
Was it the Prayer Book, doctrine, liturgy, of the Episcopal Church? Was it that Christ Church and St. Peter’s were nearby and well-known? Was it because Absalom Jones’ master was an Episcopalian and vestrymen of Christ Church and St. Peter’s?
However, St. Thomas African Episcopal Church was indeed admitted, and Bishop William White eventually ordained Absalom Jones deacon and priest. He was an evangelist and preacher, and a tremendous pastor, and within a year or so, there were over five hundred members.
Absalom Jones was a man of faith and courage. He proclaimed the saving Gospel of Christ, and denounced slavery, and took seriously that prayer to “:make no peace with oppression.”
When I grew up in Philadelphia, I was very much aware of St. Thomas’ Church. It had moved from center city to West Philadelphia; always had a large congregation. Today St. Thomas is located in the Overbrook section of West Philadelphia.
There must have been a compelling reason why the Episcopal Church was chosen, and I am delighted that the diocese was at least welcoming. As a young person growing up in the city, I was aware of many Black congregations in the diocese, even as I became aware of the problems and struggles these congregations faced, for prejudice and fear, were alive and well. Even I was hesitant at first, to ;pursue ordination. That congregations were separate was no surprise, as it was common for large parishes to establish missions and chapels, not only based on race, but on class and ethnicity and language. After all, there were all sorts of Roman Catholic congregations – Italian, Irish, Polish, French, German, etc, There were all sorts of Lutherans. So one is not surprised, that today there are Asian congregations, Hispanic congregations, and so on.
And yet there is that familiar sign one sees – “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You.” Is that true? I remember visiting a church in Wisconsin, and impressed by the number of Hmongs (from Asia) and American Indians. I returned to that church a few years later, and where were the Hmongs? No one would answer, but one person did whisper, “they weren’t really welcome.”
And yet there is something within the Anglican tradition, which has the potential of drawing many, as we see today in the tremendous growth of churches in Africa, and Asia, and South America,
I share with you a basic question, “Do we have a faith worth sharing, and a church worth joining?” In his day, Absalom Jones thought so, and so did those who flocked to St. Thomas Church.
He preached freedom and love, and we have prayed today, that honoring his steadfast courage, “We may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God”.
But love is costly. Love is also a verb. It is not how we feel, but what we do. Love is action; an engagement. “And the world will know we are Christian by our love.” Is ours a community
of love? Scripture says, “Perfect love casts our fear; there is no fear in love.” God is love.
What is the love of God like? It is unconditional but costly. The cross of Christ is the sign and instrument of love. For love is at war, at war with hate and betrayal and selfishness and all love’s enemies. Love fights. No wonder in the baptismal liturgy we are bidden to “fight against sin, the world and the devil: and to continue Christ’s faithful soldier and servant unto his life’s end.” As soldiers and servants of Christ, we are to love as He loves us.
We are commanded to love. To love one another as Christ loves us.
And His love is measured by His death. Love such as that, love to the point of sacrifice even of life, is the bond between Christian disciples. The command to love is given to the church, the Christian fellowship. For as Christ loved us, so are we to love one another. And in our text he says, “Greater love has no one, but to lay down one’s life for his friend.” And He calls us each, friend, if we do what I command you. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God …. And thy neighbor as thyself.” Such is the Christian life, a life which takes up the Cross daily, and follows the Master and is obedient to His command, and surely people are drawn into a community of love who have a Faith worth sharing, and eager to proclaim the Gospel, and a church worth joining, which proclaims and lives the Truth – God is love.
There is the story of Richard, who when he was seven years old, his parents moved. His parents were worried that he would not adjust to the new situation and the new school. But, he was an outgoing boy, and soon settled in well, and in a few days began bringing his new friends home with him. But it only lasted a day or two. Suddenly, Richard stopped brining his friends home, and his father wondered why it was. So the father asked, “Richard, why do you not bring your friends home from school?” The boy said nothing. So the father paused, and then said, “Is it your mother?” and the little lad said, “Well, yes it is.” “Richard, is it because of your mother’s hands?” And the boy answered, “Well, yes it is.” Because Richard’s mother’s hands were monstrous. They were totally deformed, disfigured, discolored. And he was ashamed. So his Dad said to him, Richard, you know why your mother’s hands are like that? I’ll tell you. When she was a young lady, she was very beautiful, and she was a make-up demonstrator in the department store, and she happened to have very beautiful hands. Then I came along, we fell in love, and we got married. Then you came along, and your mother stopped going out to work. One day when you were about two, you were in the kitchen, and she heard an awful scream, and you had fallen in the fire. And she ran to you and picked you up out of the fire. And she put out the fire with her hands. And you were alright. You were in hospital for a few days, but they could not save your mother’s hands.” The next day after school, the boy brought home some friends with him. And his Dad over heard him as he came through door. He said, “You must look at my mother’s hands. They show how much she loves me.” They show how much she loves me. God is love.
And if we would see him, we must look at Jesus. That is the only thing a Christian can do.
We look at Jesus Christ on the Cross – there is love – that is how much He loves. The Cross is the very center of Christian life and doctrine. There is a little verse from a poem by Edward
Schiliter, called “Jesus of the Scars”. “The other gods were strong, but thou wast weak; they rode, but thou didst stumble to a throne. Yet to our wounds only God’s wounds can speak, And not a God has wounds but thou alone.” They show how much God loves me!
We are made by Love, for love, to love, and be loved. That is the essence of being made in God’s image. We are made for God, by God, and “our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God.” I believe there is in every human being a deep longing, which can only be satisfied by God. God yearns for us and the human heart yearns for Him and that longing is met in Jesus Christ. That is why with boldness and eagerness, we have a Gospel to proclaim, that every one can know and experience the love and freedom of the children of God.
A faith worth sharing is about Jesus – the Way, the Truth, the Life. A church worth joining is a community, living that faith, proclaiming Christ, and a people trying to love – for “they will know we are Christians by our love – and fear not.
How are we to love? As He loves us. St. Paul bids us to preach Christ crucified. Look at the Cross. See how much He loves you! With that love, disciples love one another.
Sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Richard Cornish Martin
Durham, NC
(8th Rector, St. Paul’s Parish, K Street. Washington DC)
The Church of the Redeemer
Sarasota, FL
6th Sunday after Epiphany
16 February 2014