June 20, 2021 – National Indigenous Day of Prayer
“Finding a way to right relationships”
Let us bow our heads in prayer. Loving Creator, we give you thanks for the gift of your presence in all of creation and especially within us in this time and place. Help us now to open our minds, our hearts, our whole lives, to receive the gift of your living Word for us this day; and may the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.
I think it would be safe to conclude that we are living right now in what I would call quietly tumultuous times – and in particular for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in this country – this northern section of Turtle Island. The discovery of 215 unmarked graves of Indigenous children in Kamloops, British Columbia has, and continues to, challenge us all. For Indigenous Peoples it represents the opening up of horrific wounds, re-living a very painful time. For non-Indigenous people in Canada it is a time of painful shame, frustration and guilt. And for both groups, it is a time of anxiety and questions – “Where will they find more bodies? What will happen if they find them in my community?
So on a day such as this, many of we non-Indigenous persons are wondering: “What should we do? How do we participate? Should we experience Indigenous ceremony? Should we simply disappear as not-welcomed guests?” Today’s worship is framed by the Indigenous Ministries department of the Anglican Church of Canada, and it invites us to look to God, the Creator, to find a reconciling path of healing, partnership and unity.
I want first, however, to offer some hopefully helpful guidance to the non-Indigenous people in this gathering. I need to say right up front, to you and to me, “It is not about us!” Of course we realize that the National Indigenous Day of Prayer is about Indigenous peoples. But then, often, our focus shifts right away to us and we ask ourselves, “How should I act? Is it okay if “we” do such and such? I feel really badly about what happened in the past.” Stop! It is not about us! Instead, we need to adopt the stance of a ‘relative newcomer’ – to this land and to this tradition – and even that of a ‘welcomed newcomer.’ And, with an open mind and heart, seek and find God – Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier in this time and place – alongside your Indigenous sisters and brothers.
Listen again to the first part of today’s Collect Prayer: “Creator God, from you every family in heaven and earth takes its name. You have rooted and grounded us in your covenant love, and empowered us by your Spirit to speak the truth in love, and to walk in your way towards justice and wholeness.” So let’s explore what that universal truth is saying to us today. First of all, in Indigenous life, Creator and the creation is at the centre. And in today’s worship this is highlighted – particularly in today’s hymns. The opening hymn “From all that dwells below the skies.”, is a praise of all of creation and the Creator God. And our Offertory hymn, which we’ll sing in a few minutes, “Many and Great, O God, are your works” – is an Indigenous Dakota hymn praising Creator and creation.
If we’re open to receiving and interpreting Scripture more broadly, we can receive gifts from Indigenous wisdom. Listen to Paul’s words in a portion of today’s Second Reading from Philippians chapter 4. He writes, “Finally beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever it just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Certainly to me, they seem to resonate with the Indigenous Seven Sacred Teachings of Love, Respect, Courage, Honesty, Wisdom, Humility and Truth. But, we non-Indigenous people have to resist the temptation to conclude, “Oh, they share a part of our belief system.” No. Rather, let your “circle” get bigger and realize that this is a truth that we – all of us – share.
Perhaps, I think, that the choice of today’s Gospel Reading is the most surprising and interesting – remembering that these readings were chosen by Indigenous Ministries. This choice of John’s Prologue, Chapter 1 verses 1 – 18, was made by Indigenous people. And yet, it is rooted in Greek and Graeco-Jewish 1st century philosophy! The whole notion of ‘the Word’ as the rational principle creating, governing, and sustaining the creation – the universe – is a very philosophical notion. The duality and light and dark; the sense of the Word illuminating wisdom for humanity and being the life-force in all of creation – it seems like it should come from the Humanities section of a European library. But take it out of that part of the ‘card catalogue’ in your brain, and set it down in the Indigenous understanding of the created world where everything in creation is linked together – including the land; where all of it bears some mark of the Creator; where humanity is charged with being stewards of creation; and it illuminates that truth.
And then, in John’s Gospel, this Word comes and dwells in the creation made by the Word joined intimately with humanity by becoming Jesus the Christ – God sharing and ultimately redeeming humanity and all of creation. All of humanity’s unity restored in the person of Jesus Christ.
Now, from that common foundation – that common identity – we look at life today. “Forgotten children buried in un-marked graves.” – not their children – our children – fellow children of God. So what do we do? We weep with the families. We work to establish who they are. We offer ourselves, respecting the families’ wishes, to help in whatever way is best. But what about the guilt, and shame and sorrow that some of us feel? Well, we are disciples of the Christ who offers forgiveness and reconciliation.
What about the present-day actions and attitudes that oppress our Indigenous brothers and sisters – that entrap them in life-destroying situations and life-styles? Well – you and I act to lift off whatever stone, shackle, or trap is holding them there: the Indian Act, Incarceration realities, the Child Welfare system, disadvantaged education and health care. This is not some punishment for past sins – it is making the truth of our one-ness in Creator’s humanity real!
So how do we walk that path? There is only one way we can do it. Just as we prayed to Creator God in our opening Collect Prayer, we finish that Collect with these words: “Mercifully grant that your people, journeying together in partnership, may be strengthened and guided to help one another to grow into the full stature of Christ, who is our light and our life.” To “help one another” – this is not something we do as “charity” – to “help those poor folks.” so to speak. It is something we do in response to God’s call to us – as the prophet Micah spoke to his people, “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Finally, though, we are called to hear and to speak the truth. And, as we’ve recently been reminded, that truth is painful and shameful. What do we do with our feelings of guilt? We begin by acknowledging the truth and by repenting of the unjust actions and racist attitudes of the past and of the present. And the Prayers in today’s service are a Litany for Healing and Restoration – they are designed to help us acknowledge and start to become free from those feelings.
And then, we pray – all of us – Indigenous and non-Indigenous – for wisdom and grace to become God’s people – together. As beautifully stated in the 1st verse of our Closing hymn which we’ll sing at the end of today’s service. And when you sing the word ‘nations’ – don’t think of political countries around the world. Think of groups of people of a common identity, for there are many indigenous nations within the boundaries of what we call Canada. We’ll sing these words, “For the healing of the nations, Lord, we pray with one accord, for a just and equal sharing of the things that earth affords. To a life of love in action help us rise and pledge our word.” This is the thrust, the truth and the love behind our worship and our work – today – and every day.
Amen.
