The Communion of Belonging: Genesis 2:18-14 - Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Hidcote Manor Garden (NT) by Dave Catchpole.  Creative Commons image on flickr

¹⁸ The Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” ¹⁹ So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. ²¹ So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. ²² And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. ²³ Then the man said,
   “This at last is bone of my bones
     and flesh of my flesh;
   this one shall be called Woman,
     for out of Man this one was taken.”
²⁴ Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. (NRSV)

What would you do if you had the winning Power Ball ticket? 

Wouldn’t that be the dream?

No more horrible bosses or lazy co-workers; no more stressing over paying the bills; no more worries about retirement or staring at your dream house with sadness and self-loathing.  With such a fortune, the world is literally yours.

St. Francis of Assisi was a man born into fortune and glory—who threw it all away…

He was born the son of a wealthy cloth merchant and his French wife, who spoiled him beyond reason.  Francis’ dream was to become a knight in the likeness of King Arthur’s court.  Yet his rise to glory proves anything but easy.  He rides off in battle to defend his hometown, only to be taken prisoner of war.  While in prison, he falls ill, though—and his father manages to ransom his son’s release.  He begins to question his dreams—as God calls him to something better…  It isn’t long before he publicly renounces his noble birthright (and his father), to embrace a life of poverty, begging, and belonging to the poor.

Francis realized what is so contrary to human nature: that life isn’t about fame, fortune, domination, and subjugation.

When God created the first man and woman, God never intended a master-slave relationship.  God is the only superior here.  God created the woman as a helper, that she and the man would be servants to each other, to God, and the world God created.  They belong to each other as they belong to God. 

Francis never married—but he nonetheless embraced his God-given place in the world.  Life in God’s kingdom is a mutual communion of serving, and not power, possessions, or personal glory. 

But who among us truly believes that?  Trouble is, our personal desires and ambitions have just as much influence how we live as our fears.  There’s no denying that our two greatest fears are poverty and powerlessness. 

Is it any wonder that that the homes of the rich and powerful are gated?  Protection is the most obvious answer; keeping the thieves and bandits out.  But they’re just as important for what they keep in.  What is security but the freedom to pursue happiness on our own terms, made possible by dominating everything we deem necessary for that happiness; and, by locking out anyone or anything that would threaten it.

Contrary to popular belief, there’s nothing of lasting value to be found living this way.  Salvation does not lie within the boundaries of our desires.  It’s not about having it all and coming out on top.  It’s not about rising above all vulnerability.  You can conquer the world—and still you’ll be mortal.

Salvation is given through the communion God designed into creation. 

God created the woman because the man needed her every bit as much as she would need him.  What’s more is that the welfare of God’s creation depended on their service inasmuch as they were dependent on the creation for their own sustenance.  God’s creation is a communion of mutual dependence—and not one living thing was created to be exploited or dominated for another’s exclusive benefit. 

Who was it but Christ who divested himself of the power and glory of his divinity, to become one with the poor, the outcast, and even the most despised sinners, with whom he was crucified?  Who is it, but Christ, through the Holy Spirit, who makes his temple our mortal bodies, then to reveal himself in the coming together of his One Body around Word and Sacrament?  Whose face is it, but the face of Jesus, who we see in the faces of those in need; whose face is seen in us as we give ourselves away to the lost and the lowest?

Salvation is not about possessing but belonging.  What happens in communion is that we bear with one another’s faults and forgive sins, recognizing our own imperfections and limitations.  Peace becomes reality.  We give generously out of the abundance of God’s grace, recognizing that we need others every bit as much as they need us.  Needs are met.  Diversity and individuality enrich our communion, rather than denigrating it.  All are welcome.  Everyone belongs.

Take every person: young or old, male or female, wealthy or poor—we all need something that is beyond our reach.  We all have burdens we need to be rid of; some that may be of monetary value.  Yet we all have some spiritual gift to share.  Life is better and God is nearer as we belong to each other.  Best of all, we see Jesus in each other.

Together, Jesus leads us through the darkness and losses we fear so greatly, to where light and new life can be found.  Our worst fears, realized or not, become the instruments of God’s salvation.