A Post-Election Call
by the Rev. JoAnn Barker
Because I am no longer serving in a congregation full-time, I rarely preach. Last Sunday, I worshipped at the Community of St. Mary, Southern Province. My friend and colleague, the Rev. JoAnn Barker, had the daunting task of preaching post-election. Her sermon provided me with a glimpse into the work ahead. I repost her sermon here with her permission. JoAnn served as Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Harrison, Arkansas. Just prior to JoAnn’s retirement, she served as Rector of St. Anne's Church Middletown, the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware. For Education for Ministry (EfM), JoAnn has served as a mentor and trainer and currently serves on the Executive Director’s Council of Advice.
The Collect
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
The Gospel
As Jesus taught, he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
He sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:38-44)
When I was asked to preach this Sunday, I was unaware that it would be the Sunday after the election. Being the eternal optimist and pretty sure that Kamala would win, I thought this would be a time to be joyful and share with her the positive vision for an administration that guaranteed women’s rights, included the diversity of all persons, and respected the dignity of every human being. I was wrong. I was and remain shocked at what happened when the large majority of America chose the 45th president to return to the White House. The pundits are hard at work doing the autopsy of the Democratic party, and we who side with the loser are despondent and feel like we have lost our way.
Being honest I read today’s gospel and was in the mood to say, “You tell ‘em, Jesus! “
“Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets! They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
Yeah! 47 and his friends are the Scribes: they’re rich and got that way through nefarious means. They do things for show and fool the people into thinking they will be helped when the rich will get richer on their backs. You tell ‘em Jesus, and I will too.
Remember the meme going around in the 1990s, “What would Jesus do?” Bracelets were distributed everywhere, mainly from Evangelical Christian churches but also in schools. Where I lived, this became a cultural phenomenon. I tried to avoid it and didn’t use it in the church I was serving, thinking it was hokey. I apologize that this showed my elitist bent, but I did what I could to play down this wildly popular trend.
In the last century Dietrich Bonhoffer modeled for us the way of Jesus. He was an educated theologian teaching at Union Seminary in NYC when the war in Europe began, and Hitler was beginning an unprecedented deportation and annihilation of the Jews in Europe. Bonhoeffer could have stayed in America and prayed and preached for justice, but he chose instead to go back to Germany and join the resistance to take down Hitler. We know that their assassination attempt failed and that Bonhoeffer was imprisoned. Fortunately for us, he was allowed to write, and we are the beneficiaries. Bonhoeffer coined the term “cheap grace,” saying that grace received from God comes with deep responsibility. Following Christ means taking up the Cross and being willing to die for him. He was executed and expects us to be willing to be also.
My son Joe’s work involves daily conversations with experts in their field from all over the world. On the day after the election, he talked with Nishant Shah, professor, researcher, Civil Society Knowledge partner, and mentor, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He offered this reflection on our election:
“As somebody who has lived in, negotiated with, and been persecuted by authoritarian governments, here are four things to set as a reminder against the onset of despair; remembering over and over again that despair is the privilege of those who can afford it.
“An election is only one of the many ways by which care is organized and managed. If the electoral mandate goes against your own, it doesn't mean that there is no way forward. It merely means that a rights-based, process-driven, formal approach has been blocked, but there are always avenues through which things you care about can be mobilized.
“You have not lost. Elections might appear as competitions, but we need to change that narrative. Elections are about seeing what a majority (however flawed that concept might be) believes is the right way of governing collectively. If you do not align with this majority, it doesn't mean that you have lost. It means that you have work to do, to make sure that you work together for things that are important for you and for them.
“If you feel that the system has failed you, remember that systems have always failed people. If you feel it is happening to you for the first time, it means that you have had privilege which is for the first time being threatened. If you always felt that you were attacked by the system, know that people before you have lived through this, thrived, and found other ways of finding care. If all of us took the time to process our emotions towards caring for others, it will develop its own momentum.
“You are not alone. This is not unique. It is not exceptional. Your narrative of what your country or people believe in and stand for might have been challenged, but this has happened before. To many others. Reach out. Within and outside, for others who share your experience and your grief. We will hold you while you figure out the next steps, but you are not alone.
“My heart is with the people who are going to be severely and disproportionately impacted by the new mandate of the US elections.
“My head is with the people who I trust and know will make the changes to ensure the protections of those who will be most affected.
“My head and heart are with everybody who realizes what a global shift this is going to be, but how it also marks another milestone in the swing towards futures that we dread.”
I choose to live in hope so after a week or so of grieving I will pick myself up and continue to serve the Lord as I am called in this world in justice and truth. Two politicians that have touched me in my lifetime are Bobby Kennedy and Jimmy Carter. Both were flawed human beings who had a heart for those who live on the fringes and need government to care about them. I pray that we can go forward and do likewise.
Continue to do the good work.
Continue to build bridges not walls.
Continue to lead in compassion.
Continue the demanding work of liberty for all.
Continue to dismantle broken systems, large and small.
Continue to set the best example for our children.
Continue to be a vessel of nourishing joy.
