Pentecost is upon us, and after last Sunday’s sermon, I’d like to reflect a little more on the idea of the "Complexification of Christ", especially at this time of deep divisions that exist within the church and in our society. Here is the paragraph from last Sunday's sermon, in which I make reference to this idea: “In the prayer, Christ recognizes human divisions, but the prayer is not in any way hampered by those divisions; rather, the prayer reaches towards the goal of oneness. Not the kind of oneness that swallows up differences by pretense, nor the kind of oneness that minimizes differences, or even rejects them because they find no value in them, but the kind that celebrates humanity in all its forms, and shapes, and sizes, and colors, and beliefs... the oneness that appeals beyond categories. Some call it the "Complexification of Christ", which means accepting the diversity and differences of the other as integral to ourselves, and thus integral to the meaning of Christ. More importantly, engaging the other is not about dissolving ourselves into the other, instead it is about being true to ourselves - our identity - by finding ourselves in God, and God in the other.” The prayer in reference is Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17. One of the unique qualities about the Day of Pentecost was the broadening of the language of the one God. The I Am, who the Jews uphold to be the God. Prior to Pentecost, I Am was only known to speak one language. But on the morning of Pentecost, people from multiple cities around the world heard, in their own language, the wonderful extraordinary works of God - the I Am. If they had never heard, in their own language, what God has done, what God is doing, and what God is willing and capable of doing, now they do. If diaspora Jews and others thought that they could only hear, in one language, the hidden purpose of I Am,here they found out that I Am now speaks to us in a language that they can understand, that God now speaks in a language that their children can hear and respond to. In fact, they do not have to learn a new language in order to hear God speak to them; God can speak to them in their own language as He speaks to us in our own language. How liberating must that have been! Over the years thereafter, the challenge of the disciples was one where they either had to devise a two-step process - circumcision and baptism - by which those who hear God’s saving acts in their own language can become Christians, or the one step process - baptism - by which all others who respond to God’s redeeming works in their own language can become Christians. At the Council of Jerusalem - Acts 15 - which was presided over by James the brother of Jesus, the apostles determined not to burden those who have come to faith in Christ with anything but… “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell” A fair reading of the declaration by the apostles highlights not only the acknowledgment of the diversity and differences that abound in God’s creation, but the affirmation and acceptance of those differences as part of God Himself. What the apostles came to appreciate was that to understand the meaning of Christ is to acknowledge that human differences are part of who we are, and part of the nature of God. For that reason, we do not have to lose our identity in order to be Christians or to engage the other. We only lose our complexion in Christ. In fact, understanding our identity and who we are is at the core of the idea of the Complexification of Christ. Suffice it to say that “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Since all are one in Christ, the Complexification of Christ is not only an affirmation that each is created in the image of God, but every human being is a house of God - Emmanuel, God in us, God with us, God in the midst of our lives. Need I find another reason to lose my complexion in Christ? No, I don't think so. ~Manny

I am always amazed at the openness of the seas. As I flew to Ghana two weeks ago, I peered through the window and looking out, saw the open skies, the open seas. And when flying over the Sahara desert I viewed even more still, saw the open dessert which stretched for miles and miles on end. From the perspective, every so often you will see a long winding road through the desert. “Where is this road leading to?” I will ask myself. You can see, from thirty thousand feet, small settlements in the desert. “Who are these people who live there?” I wonder. The point of being curious is to be enthralled by the boundless openness of your thoughts and dreams. And, if I may ask, what are your dreams? What fascinates you the most and gives you enough reason to take a pause and take it all in? Do you feel any constraints to those dreams, thoughts and fascinations? Boundless Openness is a unique character of the Christian faith. It is the kind of openness which takes us directly into the heart of the Easter mystery. Boundless openness demands that a Christian must learn to let go, to Passover, to die. The powerful conclusion is to come back to a resurrected life. In many ways, that’s the enchantment. The power of a resurrected life generates boundless openness because we look at the world of possibilities. Looking through the window of the airplane, all I saw was the vastness of space, the expanse of the ocean, and the limitlessness of the skies. These tell of something infinitely richer, fuller, and more inclusive than the often narrow, restricted and bounded perspectives. Openness is far more important than the close minded way of looking at things, because we are all human beings made in God’s image. Being open, then, helps in becoming more the person you are meant to be. Summer is upon us; it is a season where we venture out into the open, take road trips, troop to the beach, go on a hike, and stay outdoors for as long as the sun is up; in effect, we stay open to the unending possibilities of making new friends, meeting new people on our walks, travels, and other social events. Summer springs upon us the beauty of being open. Over the past couple of weeks and, in fact, the next couple of weeks, we will be celebrating our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, siblings, and friends who have, and will, graduate from high school, college, or an institution of higher learning. For us at Christ Church, we give thanks for Esther Olajide, Carla Spooner, Ben Atkins and Laura Mossier - all of whom graduated from their high schools. The beauty of giving thanks for these milestone presents us with the opportunity to also ponder on the extraordinarily boundless opportunities that lie in the future, and those which are open for further exploration. In my own life, I have had the blessing of questioning any view that binds me to it or holds me in subjection, if you will. Like a bird which soars high to the skies and sees no limitation or hindrance in its desire to conquer any distance, I like to explore the unique gifts of being open, and staying open. I deeply enthralled by the intellectual capacity underpinning openness. Many are the stories that I have shared about the theological and cultural challenges that I had to deal with when I first arrived in the United States, and began serving at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia. I often ask myself, “Where would I be if I had not embraced the gift of being open?” In fact, where would we all be if we had failed to open the door, ever-so-slightly, just to take a look at the breathtaking nature of a world that lies beyond our limitations? At some point during my flight to Ghana, I had to shut the window, and when I did I saw nothing but the white plastic covering it. Oftentimes, that’s what life turns out to be; if we shut the only window we have to look outside, we become constrained to the very limited space our eyes can behold. But if we dare to open that very same window, we will see a world brimming with beauty, elegance and grace. It is a world for which we all dream, a world of boundless openness which beckons us to explore. It is a world full of people - God’s people. Yes, God’s people, who come in different shapes, sizes, forms and color. God’s people who fail each other and themselves, but also endear themselves to live resurrected lives. It is indeed a beautiful world because of its openness. There’s nothing more fulfilling than being open. And our blessing is one of living in a society that prods us toward being open. Don’t shut that little window. Keep it open. That’s the only way you can enjoy the gift of God’s boundless openness. Manny. June 2019

Each one of us is Israel, because we all struggle with God. All struggle with the idea of God. All struggle with the power that is God. All struggle with the certainty that God doesn’t provide for us. All struggle with the uncertainty of God. All struggle with the faith that is God. All struggle with the life that God gives. All struggle with identity and meaning. Who is it that doesn’t struggle with one thing or another? And, in fact, some of our struggles may be faceless. We are prone to think that we do not deserve the blessings that have been poured upon us, or the hand that we have been dealt with. I don’t pretend to know why we think we do deserve, or do not deserve, one thing or the other. But how could you, if wherever you turn to display traces or residue of human struggle - our struggle? Ours is a reality wherein we see lives constantly engaged in some sort of struggle. When could we live a life devoid of any struggle? And is that even possible? The idea of Israel came to be when Jacob, who had cheated his brother Esau out of his inheritance, left home for fear of being killed by Esau. He escapes into the open wilderness, by himself, to his uncle Laban’s house, where he makes his family. Jacob eventually decides to return home, but yet still feared that his brother Esau might exact revenge on him. On the night before his meeting with Esau, Jacob struggled with a mysterious man, or angel, or God, until day break. For whatever reason, the mysterious man, angel, or God could not overpower Jacob. Come morning, the mysterious being said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob responded, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God, and with men, and have prevailed.” Jacob, a name which meant "deceiver", is now to be called Israel (Yisra`el), meaning "one that struggled with the divine angel." Another interpretation is "one who has prevailed with God". Afterwards, Jacob named the place Penuel, meaning "face of God", saying: "I have seen God face to face, and lived." In this story, we touch the essentials of our own struggle of fear, loneliness, powerlessness, darkness, exhaustion, and relentless pain, but we also know that they cannot prevail against us. What fascinates me about this story is not the idea of struggling, but rather struggling with God. The name Israel itself emanates from a struggle with the divine. And I think that the idea of struggling with God is akin to discerning the will of God. In the context of our struggling with God, we see the face of God; we do not die by seeing the face of God, instead we live. And living helps us to understand the nature of our individual and collective struggle as one not devoid of the presence of God, but that God shapes and shepherds our struggle until the morning sun rises. Learn this: real growth involves struggling... Israel. The sun that rises upon daybreak simply alerts us to the hope that none of our struggles can overpower us unless we let them. Nor can we let the mystery man - God, depart without blessing us. “Bless me before you leave,” Israel said. The psalmist assures us, “weeping my last for the night but joy comes in the morning.” May the joy of knowing that we have endured a night of struggle move us toward believing that God is ever a part of our lives, our struggle. Israel. I will conclude by quoting St. Augustine, who wrote that “God is always trying to give good things to us, but our hands are too full to receive them.” May we empty our hands to receive the fullness of God’s gifts which come to us, and are given to us, offered to us, and bestowed upon us because we refuse to let Him go until He blesses us. At daybreak, the Son will rise, and our struggle will end. Israel. ~Manny

Today is the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Readings for today: Acts 16:9-15 Psalm 67 Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 John 14:23-29 The Collect of the Day: O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Our beloved parishioner, Rebecca Warlow, gave today's Sermon, and you can stream or download it below:

Like many, I have to face the battle that rages within me - a battle that can generate significant chaos. No one sees it or feels it but me. You, also, may have similar battles raging within you. No one sees or feels them but you. Chances are that we may become weighed down with the chaos so much that its effect becomes all too visible to ignore, or when we gather enough courage and motivation we may yet share these inner battles with a loved one, an acquaintance, or priest. There are also times when we succumb to these battles. Like it or not, there may be some chaos within you and I, and the causes and effects of them are as many and varied as the sands at the shore. A few days ago, a friend introduced me to the works of Wendell Berry - a wise man who is a farmer in Kentucky. He is also an environmental activist, writer, and poet. Upon hearing that he is a Kentucky farmer, I was reminded of our own parishioners, Ron and Alexi, who are also from Kentucky. Ron, unfortunately, lost his father a couple of weeks ago - an example of the raging chaos. We hold him and his family in our thoughts and prayers. In those wise words that spring from the pages of Wendell’s work, we find that he is funny, rebellious, bitter, and gentle - moments which reflect those varying but raging chaos within us. In his funny manner he writes, “Don’t own so much clutter that you will be relieved to see your house catch fire.” I thought that was a good one, especially if you are a bit of a hoarder. In a more subtle way, however, he also appeals to the value of not storing treasures where thieves can break in and steal, but to ponder on the necessities of our daily lives. When Wendell sounds rebellious, we read this: “You can best serve civilization by being against what usually passes for it.” Indeed, if you think about what it is that we have lost as a result of our so-called civilization, you might agree with Wendell that the best way to save a civilization that has created an indifferent populace is to challenge it. Come to think of it, the Rabbi (Jesus) we follow did the exact same thing by challenging a system that had reduced its citizens into ritual robots. His rebellion is captured in words that set us free to live abundantly: “ I came that you might have life, and to live abundantly.” Many are those who have expressed regrets at our fractured political system - an example of the effects of the chaos within. We have set camps at CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. I am always confounded by what people say on TV, and very much concerned about the fact that we all chew on what others say without measuring them against our own values and best judgement - the effects of our own raging chaos. For that, Wendell suggests that “As soon as the generals and the politicos can predict the motions of your mind, lose it. Leave it as a sign to mark the false trail, the way you didn’t go.” As I mentioned earlier on about Ron, losing a loved one often creates despair... "Why should he or she die this way or that way? What could I have done differently?" You hold on to the pain and anguish, and you sometimes let go, not because you really want to let go but because you seem powerless in the face of your questions. The moments of powerlessness, when you want to do everything in your power to alter the cause of a particular situation but then you realize that you cannot, there’s another power which is more controlling of the situation than you care to appreciate. As a matter of fact, the battle that rages within might not even be about the passing of a loved one, but the different types of illnesses that we are all fighting - within, and without. Added to that confusion are questions about why that promising medication is no longer working... if it ever worked at all. Even more so, we wonder about the sort of inner chaos our loved ones may be dealing with. It’s often a lot. In the face of all of these, our powerlessness stares us in the face and whips up our despair. It is akin to flying in a plane, and hoping that one of the two sleepy pilots has had enough caffeine to help him/her stay awake throughout the long flight. Wendell offers this about human despair and powerlessness: “It may be that when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work. And when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings.” The thought of not knowing what to do sends us rushing to do something, anything. Yes, uncertainty is difficult to hold. And it is precisely for that reason that the psalmist assures us to be still and know that I am God. When Wendell says "real work", he isn’t incentivizing us to do more but, instead, to do less. Sit still. Go inward. Have a cup of coffee with a friend. Go for a walk. Listen to music. Meditate. Hold the powerlessness and despair gently, and get to know them. Learn their lessons. If we sit long enough, we might even find the lion and the lamb that live within us, and learn from them too. Maybe we can even practice helping them learn to live together better. Yes, the raging chaos within each of us causes some deep distress. Maybe it’s about time we quiet the mind, relax the body and simply be in the moment. Wendell will say, “Be like the fox who makes more tracks than necessary, some in the wrong direction. Practice resurrection.” Live abundantly, my friends. ~Manny

This is the Fifth Sunday of Easter. This is also Youth Sunday at Christ Church, when our wonderful youth lead the services, in roles usually held by adults. It is a very special Sunday. Readings for today: Acts 11:1-18 Revelation 21:1-6 John 13:31-35 Psalm 148 The Collect of the Day: Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The youth of Christ Church deliver the sermon on this day, and you can stream or download it below:

You may have heard it said before. You may have said it yourself, albeit in an innocuous way. And when you did, you couldn’t have been happier. It may have been about a revenge or payback that you least expected would ever happen. I have thought about it ever so deeply, but it didn’t really hit home as it did a couple of weeks ago... "whither grace, or karma?" I have wondered to myself about each. Karma is the cycle of cause and effect; action begets reaction. There is no effect without cause. Karma is based on the principle that one sows what one reaps. Indeed, we are all free to choose any and all of our actions based on our understanding of good or evil, but we are also responsible for the consequences. For that reason, the core instruction within the concept of karma is do good works - that way, only good will return to you. But we also acknowledge that good doesn’t always return the same, because there are those who hurt others, who have always been good to them in return. For example, we hear Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount: “You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth'. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”This is such a difficult act to follow because it doesn’t reward consequences, nor does it reward reciprocity. In fact, it only speaks of turning the other cheek - the language of grace. Grace is the state of being, which has been sanctified by God. It is the state where you realize that your life, and every life, is a precious gift from God, and so you find great value in turning the other cheek. Grace is the deep place where you feel incredibly thankful and grateful to God for the life you have, and the life that anyone else has. Grace teaches an unbelievable story about the gift that you have - one which you do not deserve but have anyway, because God decided to gift that to you. In my sermon last Sunday, I made reference to Psalm 23, and the idea that God doesn’t follow us, and goodness and mercy don’t follow us; rather, the better translation of the Hebrew word radaph is "pursue". Mercy pursues us, goodness pursues us, and God pursues us. Have you ever felt being pursued by goodness, mercy, or grace? It is relentless! Francis Thompson, an English poet, wrote a poem called “The Hound of Heaven”, and in the poem, Francis describes Jesus as a fierce hound who pursues a man until he gets him. He writes: I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter. Up vistaed hopes I sped; And shot, precipitated, Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears, From those strong Feet that followed, followed after. But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbèd pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, They beat--and a Voice beat More instant than the Feet-- 'All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.' This is how John Francis Xavier O’Conor describes the poem... “The name is strange. It startles one at first. It is so bold, so new, so fearless. It does not attract, rather the reverse. But when one reads the poem this strangeness disappears. The meaning is understood. As the hound follows the hare, never ceasing in its running, ever drawing nearer in the chase, with unhurrying and imperturbed pace, so does God follow the fleeing soul by His Divine grace. And though in sin or in human love, away from God it seeks to hide itself, Divine grace follows after, unwearyingly follows ever after, till the soul feels its pressure forcing it to turn to Him alone in that never ending pursuit." The awkward, yet uplifting, reality is that if karma generates consequences for our actions, grace does not. In fact, our belief is one where the grace of God is so, so generous that it will ultimately win us over. And that as unsatisfying as our actions may be, grace always wins. The underlying promise within the framework of grace is that no matter how difficult life is, God is gaining on us. God is going to win you and I over with irresistible grace, a nagging grace which only pursues. Instead of the consequence of retribution to which karma subscribes, grace absolves, renews, reconnects, and cures our broken relationships. Then the question for our consideration is, "How then does karma survive within the framework of our understanding of grace?" Karma, like grace, also points towards nirvana, the salvation of the individual. Karma is rather a tough path, whereas grace is not. But I choose both not because I can earn my way towards salvation, but because - as Denis Read once said - “If you want to move mountains, bring a shovel.” I prefer to bring a shovel. ~Manny

This is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. Readings for today: Acts 9:36-43 Revelation 7:9-17 John 10:22-30 Psalm 23 The Collect of the Day: O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A few weeks ago, I joined three friends I grew up with in Ghana to celebrate their mother’s eighty years birthday. It was such a lovely evening, and I was particularly impressed with the desire of my friends to honor their mother for reaching that milestone. At the party were siblings of the birthday lady, Agnes, as well as her children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces, friends of the children like myself, and many others who knew Agnes and/or her children. Serenaded by all these wonderful people, and with great food and music, Agnes danced the evening away as she relished the incredible gift of motherhood, and the joy of being able to keep a fetus until birth and then shape the life of that innocent baby into a responsible adult. By the time you read this piece, you may have heard the news of the birth of the Royal Baby. And if you had had the chance to listen to or read the remarks of Prince Harry, who said, "It's been the most amazing experience I could ever have possibly imagined. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension.” I couldn’t agree more. Women are exceptional, and those who have had the joy of caring for a baby or two - whether biological or not - bless those children and many others with the gift of fortitude, compassion, perseverance and resourcefulness. At the party for my friends’ mother, the DJ played one particular song that has captured many an African heart. The song is Sweet Mother - a highlife song by a Nigerian and Camerooniansinger Prince Nico Mbarga. The song remains one of the most popular songs in Africa. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to insinuate that there isn’t a child in West Africa who doesn’t know this song or has never heard it. It is a song that celebrates motherhood, and chronicles, from conception to birth and beyond, the depth of a mother’s affection and, in fact, all that a mother pours into raising a child. Although I have heard it many more times than I can ever remember, I don’t think the song has made as much impact on me as it did on that evening. For once, I wasn’t consigned to the inherent character traits within the song; I could see and touch the life within the song - a life which is made possible because of a woman who is a mother. During times like these, I am also reminded of my own mother and the depth to which she went into pouring out her very self in raising my siblings and I. She is nearing eighty years herself, and does not really need much more than the joy of hearing the voice of any one of her children. She calls as often as she can - sometimes daily - and depending on her mood, she either has lots to say, or is simply checking in. Other than picking her calls and talking to her for however many minutes, I always wonder if there’s anything more fulfilling that I could do for her and, in fact, care for her as many of you so wonderfully care for your mothers. I was reading an article in the New York Times - it was actually a rejoinder to an article - Yes, This Is What Gifts Are Now by Monica Heisey. In her rejoinder, eighty-year-old Ms. Monica Starkman Schteingart recounts a mother’s joy in receiving an often-misshapen ceramic bowl with the words “For My Mom” carved into its side from an elementary school child. She is eighty, and doesn’t need much, the writer argues. She thinks, however, that even if you are old and possibly have children of your own, a handmade gift to your mum on Mother’s Day is still the best gift - even if it is misshapen. Well, since I never got the chance, like many of my friends, to make a misshapen ceramic bowl with “For My Mom” inscribed on it, it wouldn’t hurt to do something more memorable for her. And I think the desire to do something memorable for mum was one of the reasons underlying the party my friends held in honor of their mother. Amidst all the celebrations honoring mothers on Mother’s Day, I am also reminded of women who desired to have children of their own, but for many varied reasons could not or did not. Mother’s Day is for you as well. Many are those who have shaped the lives of children and offered them more than what life was willing to give them. To that child who was not your biological child, you are the wonderful Sweet Mother he or she never had. To that child whom you mentored, you are the epitome of all that is gracious, beautiful, compassionate, and life-giving. I also acknowledge, with deep sadness, those who have either lost their mothers or did not have a great relationship with them and so prefer not to interact with them or even hear their names being called out. I pray for God's compassion, and add that if you are by any means estranged from your mother, I hope you wouldn’t ever close the door to the possibility of reconciliation. Sweet Mother - there’s never a moment that passes without the touch of a mother’s presence, even if you may be as far away from your mother, or as close as you can be to her. To me, the joy of motherhood is represented by the dance of Agnes. It was more than a happy dance; it was a dance of gratitude for the blessings of motherhood. Sweet Mother - I love you for teaching me what it means to love, and for expressing the beauty of what you love in all that you do. I love you, Sweet Mother, for nurturing the beauty of love within me. I love you, Sweet Mother, for making me a better person. I wish you all a Happy Mother's Day. ~Manny

Today is the Third Sunday of Easter. Readings for today: Acts 9:1-6, (7-20) Psalm 30 Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19 The Collect of the Day: O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. The text of Father Manny's Sermon for today can be read here, or you can listen to the audio via streaming or downloading below.

Today is Easter Sunday. Readings for today: Isaiah 65:17-25 Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 John 20:1-18 The Collect of the Day: Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. Father Manny's Sermon for Easter Sunday can be read here. You can also stream or download his Sermon below.