| Acts 2: 36 – 41 Psalm 33: 18 – 22 St. John 20: 11 – 18 “Supposing him to be the gardener…”. Magdelene, when she meets Jesus immediately after his resurrection, mistakes him for a day-laborer. Magdalene saw correctly. The Christ who advocated for the “least of these,” and insisted that God must be perceived in one’s neighbor, reveals himself in a case of mistaken identity. God inhabits those in which we least expect God’s Presence. As we treat the least of these our brothers and sisters, so we have treated God in Christ. The weave of humankind into God is entire, and compels empathy, justice, grace, decency, respect and response. Observable in San Miguel de Allende, and throughout our hemisphere, is a loss of work due to the necessary restrictions associated with the arrival of COVID-19. In San Miguel, where the informal economy prevails and no social safety net is measurably on offer, crises for many occurs about seven days following loss of work. Construction continues next to my abode, waiters attend in a few local restaurants, shops are scatter-shot-open, and, of course “first line” folk in pharmacies, tiendas, grocery stores, police cars, clinics and hospitals…abound. They have little choice; some because they are deemed essential, and others because income is the primary concern for the maintenance of families. Suppose Christ to be each of these persons as you conduct your daily life. If you are maximally sequestering, imagine Christ in the delivery-person pulling up on his or her motto. Crisis cuts us down to nub. Just presuppose the Presence of God in all with whom you engage, and treat them with respect and a bit of reverence. “Do not hold me,” the Risen Christ abjures Magdalene. Something more is immediately required of Magdalene. She must see more broadly and widely and deeply than in her previous perception. What has transpired has transpired. Certain patterns of the assumed past must be let go. Here, in the present, is the reality we are given; now is the unfolding moment of God’s opportunity. We can hold to shop-worn recollections of Christ only for an instant. That instant is in the moment in which we must put on new spectacles as we greet and conduct financial transactions with grocery-clerks, parish staff, a Raggedy-Anne gringa met on the Ancha. All are Christ. Vestry met today (by ZOOM). Vestry unanimously concurs that 1). Staff salaries continue as prior to crisis; 2). We extend ourselves to the Red Cross to say that, should a crisis clinic be required, St. Paul’s is available for consideration (we have effected contact and collaboration with the Red Cross, to whom the Rector has designated a personal $1,000; 3. St. Paul’s allocate an immediate $1,000 to fund a configuration of four local NGO’s dedicated to the amelioration of hunger. This, also, has been accomplished, though the precise details cannot be disclosed until a formal announcement occurs from the collaborating agencies. The Civil Initiative Fund at St. Paul’s offers opportunity to contribute through St. Paul’s (with accreditation to the donor, and tax letters via St. Paul’s) in an accountable manner, to approved local organizations. This demonstrates to the greater community the multiple engagements of the Parish of St. Paul’s, while caring for donors in temporal, pragmatic accounting. Our Faith is immediate and it is practical. The Risen One manifests as a gardener; the first directive to the Disciples is to proceed somewhat blindly toward Galilee…there they will learn more, where they will receive the further Presence and Spirit of their Lord. Hence, we press ahead, eyes open, yet myopic, striving to meet God in our neighbor, and expecting guidance as to how we, a community of Faith bridging necessary isolation and distancing, might collaborate for Grace and Good. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” -2 Corinthians 13:14 The Reverend Canon George F. Woodward III The Collect for Tuesday in Easter Week “O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen.” BCP page 223 In the Morning “This is another day, O Lord. I do not know what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.” BCP page 461 |
| St. Paul’s Anglican Church Calzada del Cardo, 6 Centro 37700, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico 415.121.3424 www.StPaulSMA.com |