2021

As we celebrate St. Hilda again, we wonder how we can attune our lives and hearts to her example. While it’s fun to use so-called “Celtic” worship on this day, what would truly living like a community she oversaw look like? How might we corporately and individually live in strict obedience to Hilda’s rule of justice, devotion, chastity, peace, and charity as we follow Jesus, giving up everything that holds us back? What systems are we part of that are inherently unjust and perpetuate injustice? Where does our devotion to God shine through? How can it grow?

As we celebrate all the saints and pray for all the souls, we may not necessarily consider ourselves exemplars of faith…When cry out in lament, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” — about the Conference of Parties or systemic racism in policing or housing or so-called “critical race theory” or, or, or, we have the examples of the saints those who believed and saw the glory of God.

What will we do together as a congregation to interrogate and confess the sins of the past and reduce mistrust and suspicion? What are you going to do personally in your spiritual life and practice to reflect on your own sins and rebuild relationships? How will we help our congregation resist the urge to hit the snooze button? That is, how will we keep awake and do the work when we’ve committed to it and affirmed it with our words.

The Rev. Helen McPeak served as a supply priest for St. Hilda St. Patrick on Sunday, October 24. Her sermon was preached extemporaneously as a response to the texts for Proper 25, Track 2.