The Rev. Johnson Loud Jr.: Enmegahbowh
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid." And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead." And the disciples asked him, "Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He replied, "Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but they did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man is about to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.
Life is full of it's ups and downs. It's highs and lows. Over this past month we have seen the highs of places like Portugal and Iceland legalizing marriage equality, the Consecration of Bishop Mary Glasspool, the Presidents Declaration of June as LGBT Pride month. We have also seen lows such as the Missionaries of Hate, the Pentecost Letter of the Archbishop of Canterbury, yesterdays decision by the Committee on Health and Human Services to keep the ban on gay men donating blood.
In today's Gospel narrative of the Transfiguration, Peter, James and John are enjoying a real Spiritual high. It is terrifying, but being in the presence of the all powerful God in the Person of Jesus transfigured before them, connecting the prophets and all, was just too great to give up. No wonder Peter says: "Lord it is good for us to be here...I will make three dwellings." (Matt. 17:4). Today's mediation from Forward Day by Day, reflects on the experience of Peter and how it relates to our own Spiritual lives.
When we enjoy a good experience, we often try to prolong it or to repeat it. With religious experience we may try to stay on a spiritual high by having progressively more intense experiences. If we do so we become religious "addicts" on an ego trip rather than on the path of being open to God's direction.
In the gospel lesson, Peter tries to do just that. He wants to stay on the mountain where they had seen Jesus transfigured. Jesus led them off the mountain to go on his journey toward Jerusalem and the events which were to happen there.
Spiritual highs are a delight when they happen, much as a sunny day when we are not expecting it. But to focus on them distracts from getting on with our journey. It would be like staying at a party too long in the hope that something more might happen.
There is a time to stay, and a time to go and get on with something else. (1990)
Today in the Episcopal Church we commemorate Enmegahbow the first Native Episcopal Priest. In today's Episcopal Cafe: Speaking to the Soul we read:
The consecration of [St. Columba’s] church [on the White Earth reservation] by Bishop Whipple in August of 1872 was a gala occasion, with a huge crowd of both church and Indian dignitaries present. On that occasion, one of the chiefs spoke to Bishop Whipple: “I heard the new message which you had brought into the country. I went to your spirit man, Enmegahbowh. I sat at his feet, and I have all that story in my heart.”
The following year, Enmegahbowh was instrumental in inspiring the chiefs of the various Ojibwe bands to offer their lives, if necessary, to make peace with the Sioux. This historic, dramatic, and successful Peace Mission ended the 133 years of Sioux-Ojibwe warfare and can be credited primarily to our Ojibwe missionary.
It is claimed by his critics that Enmegabowh was too tolerant when he turned a blind eye to what his detractors called the “foolish war dances” of the Ojibwe—a “sinful pagan ritual” from the traditional Christian perspective of the time—but “John Johnson,” Ojibwe Medicine Man, knew from his own experience the relative innocence of the tribal practices. His Ojibwe name meant “The One Who Stands Before His People,” and that he did.
He had been a “traitor” to his own bloodthirsty Ojibwe band by warning the white settlers of their murderous intentions in 1862; and he had been a “traitor” to his intolerant Christian associates by not condemning wholesale the ancient rituals of his native people. But he was no traitor to his Lord. . . . When his twelve-year-old son Alfred lay dying, the boy accepted that he would die. He took his father’s hand and with his last breath said, “Father, pray much and do good”—a simple and deep byword which characterized Enmegahbowh’s life and death. . . .
In recent history, the Rev. Howard Anderson tells of asking an Ojibwe man with whom he worked why he belonged to the Episcopal Church. The man’s answer: “While others will killing us, you were ordaining us.”
From “(John) Enmegahbowh (Johnson)” in Stars in a Dark World: Stories of the Saints and Holy Days of the Liturgy by Fr. John-Julian, OJN (Denver: Outskirts Press, 2009).
In First Run Feature Film's For the Bible Tells Me So, in the Special Features interview between the film maker Daniel Karslake and Bishop Gene Robinson, Robinson makes say: "The best part of the Christian faith is that we do not always have to get it right. What God asks of us is that we remain faithful and God will do the rest."
As lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered individuals we have been going through the ups and downs of seeking full inclusion in the Church and society, and we always will. If you are like me, at times we all get tired of LGBT people being on the loosing end. We gain a few and loose that much more. In a perfect world, which we obviously do not live in, no one should be voting, legislating or approving a minorities equal rights. However, as Christians we do have the hope that whether we are celebrating victories or mourning losses, God's prefect revelation in Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit is present with us through all that we experience. God rejoices with us when we are in our highs, and God accompanies us through the pain and sorrow of our low points. God continues to call and empower us by the Holy Spirit so that we can work through our struggles, and keep doing the missionary work of justice and equality for all people. As LGBT Christians we are called to address within ourselves our own prejudices towards any other group of people, so that we can be part of God's inclusive ministry and mission of radical hospitality and reconciliation.
O God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 5, Book of Common Prayer, Page 229).
Almighty God, you led your pilgrim people of old with fire and cloud: Grant that the ministers of your Church, following the example of blessed Enmegahbowh, may stand before your holy people, leading them with fiery zeal and gentle humility. This we ask through Jesus, the Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Enmegahbowh, The Lectionary Page).
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