The deepest, darkest of nights

In 1998 one of the largest and most destructive hurricanes to ever form in the Atlantic bore down on the Central American country of Honduras. Unlike Katrina, when this hurricane named Mitch, hit the coastline of Honduras it just about stopped. Katrina was through the Gulf Coast in a manner of hours. Mitch took 4 days to go through Honduras.

It was 4 days of hellish rain, pounding wind, and devastating flooding.

Also, unlike Katrina, tens of thousands of those who were in Mitch's path weren't living in solid homes, but rather in makeshift homes constructed of twigs, cardboard, and other random objects. (This was before the hurricane hit).

It was absolute destruction. Honduras was already the second poorest country in this hemisphere, with an inadequate infrastructure, and people living on less than a dollar a day. The ones that survived, lost children, parents, siblings, and friends. The hollow look we are familiar at seeing in the eyes of our Gulf Coast residents, bore into the already hollow eyes of the Hondurans.

Karen and I had an opportunity to lead a mission trip to Honduras in 2001, to help them rebuild homes and lives. Before we left for Central America I had the chance to hear the Episcopal Bishop of Honduras speak. Standing in the rubble, which was all that was left of his country, he talked about the Gospel.

He said that what gave his people hope was that the Gospel of Matthew didn't end with the 27th chapter. He said that what gave his people hope was that Jesus' story didn't end at the tomb - that Jesus' story didn't end with a corpse and a broken body. There's a 28th chapter: Resurrection, new life, hope, and God's powerful hand working to shed light on the darkness.

God's story didn't end - and it still hasn't - He lives!

May that give us hope today. May the resurrection of Christ give the people of the Gulf Coast hope.

The darker the night - the deeper the blackness and despair gets, the smaller the spark of light needs to be to pierce the darkness. A single candle can illuminate an entire cavern. May we, the Church of Jesus, hold aloft that spark and let is shine like a beacon for those who have been through so much, and lost so much, and need so much.

My guess is that many of you have been as glued to the coverage of this disaster as I have. It has been just been aweful. The pictures of those people on rooftops. Little children being hauled in a basket up to a helicopter. Rivers and lakes where streets and homes used to be. Reports of gunshots, looting, rapes, and gang violence. Reports of people opening thier homes, and cities, and schools, and churches to house, feed, and pray with the victims.

It's times like this that America gets a little smaller. Death, destruction, and despair can make us all feel like New Yorkers, or New Orlanders, or Cajun Mississippi Gulf Coasters. These times break down the walls that divide us and remind us that we all gather under the same flag, and pray to the same Heavenly Father.

Times like these also give us a good glimpse into humanity. In disaster we see most at their best, and some at their worst. We've seen Texas and other Southern States open their arms to others, and we've seen people on the streets of New Orleans take up arms against others.

All of this gives us a view of community. What kind of community is America? What kind of community is Houston? What kind of community are the looters working for? What kind of community are the doctors, nurses, and rescue workers working around the clock working for? What kind of community is the Church building - there - and here?

Both our Epistle lesson and Gospel lessons this morning are about community. I'm not going to go into much depth this morning with them, because I think they mostly speak for themselves:
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Jesus almost continues along the same line, as he talks about conflict in the Church. He doesn't say to avoid it. He doesn't say it should never happen. He doesn't say that people won't make us angry or hurt, or that we won't ever anger or hurt others. He says that when it happens there is a right way to deal with it. A holy way. A direct way. No middle men. No triangulating. No gossip, but head-on conversation.

Our church is going through some changes these days. We're adding services. We're doing things with Sunday School. We're changing our adult education program in the region. We're training members of this parish for ordained ministry, and seeing their responsibilities and training grow. We're engaging in ministry with the college and the community. We're doing new things with our worship.

Will there be conflict, and concern? You bet.

But, there's a way to deal with it. And there's the promise that conflict will help us grow closer to each other, and closer to God.

Our nation is going through difficult times. Hurricane destruction. Lives lost, and lives destroyed. Gas prices soaring. Home heating bills will double this year.

Will there be conflict and concern? You bet.

But, there's a way to deal with it. And there's the promise that the Gospel doens't end with death and loss and a dead messiah, but rather an empty tomb, new life, and resurrection.

That's the shard of light that pierces even the deepest darkness. Let it shine. Let it shine in us. Let it shine in our parish. Let is shine in the Gulf. Let it shine in our community, and how we live with each other, love one another, and grow with each other into the Body of Christ.