Shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town.
Matthew 10:14b
Well that should do it for a 2020 reflection, right? Jesus always has a way with words and we are all I’m sure quite tempted to do exactly that with this year. Brush the dirt off our sandals on December 31st and NOT LOOK BACK.
But before we brush this dust off and set off into greener pastures — perhaps we should expand this verse a little bit and capture a little more of the context Jesus is speaking into.
Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Matthew 10:11-14
So what has been ‘worthy’ in 2020? What should we take with us, and what do we leave behind? Let me offer a few examples from the life of Memorial Episcopal Church - even as I invite you to consider what worthy things have brought you peace this year.
At Memorial we have uncovered many new gifts - we’ve learned we can do worship online; that people of any age can zoom; and that sometimes all you need are a few eight year olds to make it work.
We have learned that Samaritan Community can transition into a delivery service and that Memorial has the people and resources and heart to support that.
We have seen first hand what organizations and efforts have stepped up during this pandemic and led such as The No Boundaries Coalition, Black Women Build and the Samaritan Community— and that we have been blessed to offer our support.
We have seen that physical distance is not a limitation to deepening relationship as we have grown ever closer to our friends and family at St. Katherine’s.
We have witnessed the covid 19 pandemic and the epidemic of racism in this country has called this community deeper into our work as a Jesus Centered, Justice focused community offering hope, reconciliation and a path forward for anyone who feels stuck.
And we have witnessed new volunteers and new members joining our ranks, from across the city and the country, our community has grown stronger and more resilient in this most challenging of moments.
There is much we should seek to carry with us after all of this.
We have also had to say hard goodbyes, made more painful by the lack of distance and physical contact: goodbyes to spouses, parents, siblings, relatives, friends, loved ones, and stalwarts of this Memorial Community. While we do give thanks that they have grown a little closer to the angels, we also lament not being able to say our proper goodbyes.
Perhaps we can let that dust sit a little while longer.
As we venture into a new year - and a post COVID reality — I invite you to keep those things worth keeping - because the reality is that whatever 2021 looks like, it won’t be like 2019 or any of the years before. COVID has changed our future realities, from how we shop to how we eat to how we worship. It has also re-oriented our hearts and minds in different directions. Memorial is entering this new era with a renewed sense of who we are and what we believe Jesus is calling us to do.
And I can’t wait to take that adventure with you.
So have a happy new year, have a safe and restive Holiday and see you on January 1 for worship and for many adventures after.
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