June 24 , 2007 4rd Sunday after Pentecost 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

See also: [2001]

I Kings 19:1-15a
Psalm 42
Galatians 3:23-29
Luke 8:26-39

Today’s readings portray different aspects of the quest for wholeness in the personal and communal spheres of life. There is a movement toward wholeness that cannot be overcome by illness or social alienation. Although the quest for wholeness is constantly under threat, the reality of God’s presence in our lives and in the world gives us hope for healing and wholeness and the energy to become God’s partners in the quest.

After denouncing the faith and politics of Ahab and Jezebel in word and deed, the prophet Elijah is running for his life. Physical death is likely for the prophet if he returns to Samaria. But, spiritual death is already on the horizon. Under the duress of fleeing for his life, and despite his faithfulness to God, Elijah gives up hope and is ready to die. Perhaps, the prophet hopes that he fall asleep, never to waken again. Perhaps, Elijah wonders why God has apparently forsaken him in spite of his recent triumph on God’s behalf.

In his deepest despair, Elijah discovers the graceful providence of God. The Holy One provides the prophet not only with bread for the journey, but a direct experience of the divine. From his cave, Elijah observes an earthquake and a great wind, but life-transforming revelation is not to be found in power and destruction and in the dramatic events of life. Rather, Elijah rediscovers God and finds guidance for the next steps of his journey in “the sound of sheer silence.”

Although process thought affirms that God can be experienced in all things, God is most likely to be experienced in quiet moments when we discern God’s vision and voice amid the daily events of our lives. God seldom announces God’s vision dramatically, but through “naturalistic” revelations. Elijah prepared himself for revelation by going where God sends him - to the wilderness, the quiet place – for recovery and reflection. This scripture reminds us that God faithfully provides inspiration and energy in the midst of challenge and that, through commitment to spiritual practices, we can listen to the divine whisper amid life’s challenges,

Psalm 42 portrays the quest for wholeness in terms of a deep longing. “As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you. My soul thirsts for the living God.” Once faith was easy, the answers were clear, and God felt near, but now God appears absent. The Psalmist longs for the joyful moments of spiritual clarity amid the dark night of the soul. Although the Psalmist experiences both inner and outer turmoil, still the Psalmist longs for God and lives expectantly for the return of God’s presence in his life. The Psalmist, in the spirit of Walter Brueggemann, lives in hope of “new orientation” despite the spiritual barrenness of the present moment. “Hope in God, for I shall again praise God, my help and my God,” is an affirmation that opens the door to new and richer experiences of God, deepened by a willingness to share unapologetically  the realities of unwanted and unintended pain and spiritual dryness with God.

Psalm 42 reminds us that all of life, even moments of despair and desolation, can be brought before God in prayer. God is present in suffering and joy as the dancing celebrant and the fellow sufferer who understands. The Psalmist’s deep longing is prayer enough! While there are no guarantees that the challenges of faith will be resolved and our dry spirits awakened, our very commitment to faith practices opens the door for a new vision and experience of God’s Holy Adventure in our lives. Prayer is for all moments and seasons, even when belief is difficult and faith weak. Despite all the threats to its flourishing, our mustard seed faith may grow into a great plant. Wholeness of spirit may be born anew.

Paul’s words to the Galatians are addressed to a community whose wholeness is threatened by religious and ethnic divisiveness. Paul reminds his readers that baptism brings unity amid diversity. While uniqueness of ethnicity, spirituality, theology and practice are not dissolved, there is a healthy place for diversity in the larger perspective of God’s all-embracing grace. God’s grace calls us to see our brothers and sisters clothed in Christ. In Christ, there is still diversity, and it should be treasured, but diversity is now the foundation of wholeness and beauty.

God’s grace embraces all of the antitheses that our culture, or ourselves, might lift up in our congregations and communities. What persons might fall into our antitheses that Paul does not mention? Do we see them clothed in Christ? How shall we creatively address the theological, political, and ethical diversity of our congregations?

Luke describes the quest for wholeness in the experience of a man possessed by a “legion” of demonic beings. While we do not need to literalize these demons, it is clear that this man lacks a centered self. Alienated and dissociated from his own center, bereft of any sense of dignity, this man is at the mercy of whatever “self” emerges. Yet, deep down there is still a quest for wholeness going on in his life. The demons “know” Jesus’ perception and power better than Jesus’ companions. Jesus “listens” to the deepest “need” of these demons and agrees to their request to inhabit a herd of pigs.

Centered once more in his deepest, divine self, the man is “clothed and in his right mind.” He is restored to a new life of hope and possibility. Awestruck and grateful, he begs Jesus to let him become a follower. But, Jesus suggests another possibility – he sends him home to declare the goodness of God and rebuild his life. Healing is about restoration, home, and witness.

These passages portray the many threats to wholeness of mind, body, spirit, and relationships, and affirm that God is at work to bring wholeness to every potential condition of disruption. There is, as Thomas Merton notes, a “hidden wholeness” at work to bring us healing and healing in every situation. For process theologians, this wholeness is none other than God’s aim, ceaselessly working within every unique moment of our lives and coming to us in moments of stillness as well as synchronous healing encounters.

Bruce Epperly is Professor of Practical Theology and Director of Continuing Education at Lancaster Theological Seminary. He is the author of twelve books, including God’s Touch: Faith, Wholeness, and the Healing Miracles of Jesus (Westminster/John Knox) Healing Worship: Purpose and Practice (Pilgrim), and Walking in Light: A Jewish-Christian Vision of Healing and Wholeness (Chalice). These books are available from Flux Books.

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