Absalom Jones: Liberty to the Captives Out of Love for Christ

Today's Scripture Readings

Isaiah 61: 1-4 (NRSV)

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

because the LORD has anointed me;

he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,

to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and release to the prisoners;

to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

to provide for those who mourn in Zion--

to give them a garland instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the LORD, to display his glory.

They shall build up the ancient ruins,

they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations.

John 15:12-15 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father."

Blog Reflection

This particular commemoration is so appropriate during Black History Month.  It takes us back to the struggle of African Americans for freedom from oppression.   This feast day also takes us into the history of the Christian Church's oppression by being enslaved ourselves to prejudice.

In the progression of history we have on many occasions found that those being oppressed are often the best to lead humankind towards a renewed understanding of our sisters and brothers.   Those who have faced the greatest injustices are those who show us the path toward justice and true freedom.  It is through the devotion of those thought of and treated as second class citizens, that we come to a better understanding of our own role in making the Church and the world a better place for all. This truth in no way justifies the use of violence and oppression towards any person or group of people.  However, it does teach us that God can use any situation and bring about a transformation when we allow the Gospel to be our teacher and guide.

The reading from the Hebrew Scriptures is the same one that Jesus used at his inaugural address in Luke 4: 14-19.  When Jesus proclaims himself as the fulfillment of this prophecy from Isaiah, he suddenly finds himself as the oppressed as people who "like things the way they were" are not open to change.  Jesus is the One whom God sent to proclaim release to the captives. Yet, he himself discovers that he becomes captive to others.  All through Jesus' public ministry as he heals the sick on the Sabbath, raises the dead, gives sight to the blind in our Gospel Reading for today's Office in John 9: 1-17, Jesus is regularly scoffed at, rejected, called a liar, argued with, called a demon just for being the revelation of God.  When we finally get to the night before Jesus is about to give his life over to the passion and death of the Cross, it is Jesus, the oppressed who tells those who follow him to "love one another as I have loved  you".

Absalom Jones, who was enslaved, became a hope for freedom and democracy for others like himself.  It is quite the embarrasing thing for Absalom to have to "petition" to be recognized as a Lay minister, who eventually became a Deacon and a Priest, because there was not yet room made for African American's to be accepted into the public ordained ministry of the Episcopal Church.  Yet, he followed the requirement of the day, as unjust as it was, and from there, "he denounced slavery, and warned the oppressors to 'clean their hands of slaves.'  To him, God was the Father, who always acted "on behalf of the oppressed and distressed" (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 220).

 I would suggest that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people are in the same position as Absalom, and yet very different. Sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is found in every religion, culture, race and people. Yet, even among diverse races, it is rejected by an ignorance that feeds fear and violence, used in the Name of Scripture, just as it was for African Americans, women, other religions and cultures.  In the past number of years, we have seen the page on discrimination against sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression changing even in the Church.  Surely as has been the case in every age, as the oppressed struggle for freedom, it is those who have been oppressed in the past, who become the oppressors.  In addition, Scriptures and religious principles are used to justify cruelty that is most vicious, even though it is totally "contrary to the heart of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" (Archbishop Desmond Tutu; For the Bible Tells Me So).

St. Benedict taught in his Rule to prefer nothing whatsoever to Christ.  As Christ was about freedom from oppression and the giving of ourselves out of love for those who are discriminated against, so that they may be fully included, so should the Church.   Christians who value what Jesus Christ means to us and hope to be good examples of the one who called us to love one another as Christ loves us, need to be about the work of genuine hospitality and reconciliation.


Prayers

Set us free, heavenly Father, from every bond of prejudice and fear; that, honoring the steadfast courage of your servant Absalom Jones, we may show forth in our lives the reconciling love and true freedom of the children of God, which you have given us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Absalom Jones; Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 221).


O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you:
Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness
we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your
grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please
you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.  (Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 216).


O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).