Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, Year B

Donna Joy

Psalm 24, Ephesians 1:3-14, Mark 6:14-29

During the heat of the past couple of days, it has seemed that cold and refreshing drinks of clean, healthy water are about the only things that quench our thirst. Indeed, we are blessed to live in a place where healthy, drinkable water is readily available. Last January Winnipeg was advised that tests had indicated some e coli potential so we spent a couple of days or so boiling our water, and speaking for myself I can say this gave me a glimpse into what it is like to live without the luxury of safe and healthy water. You will recall that this turned out to be a false alarm. Indeed, we – in Winnipeg – are blessed.

Most of you will know that David and I just recently returned to Winnipeg after visiting Newfoundland for 2 ½ weeks. We did quite a bit of hiking while we were there, and in the midst of those long, strenuous climbs a drink from our water bottle was refreshing beyond words.

While we were there we also went kayaking. We paddled a bit of a distance, then decided to just sit and enjoy being in such a beautiful spot. As we were sitting quietly in our kayak, suddenly a Minke whale about as far from us as the distance between me and the door into our worship space, rose out of the water and dove back in. Then another one about the same distance away but in a different direction, did the same; and then another; and then another. This went on for about ½ hour.

Sitting quietly in our kayak, we were aware of how small we were compared to the whales. We humans often like to think that we are the biggest, the best, and the most powerful (a power that we often abuse)... but I can tell you, sitting in that kayak with those 30' whales dancing around us... it was very clear that we are not the biggest, the best, or the most powerful. We were aware that we were guests in the home that God has provided for them. And, we were aware that they were gracious hosts. The whales whom inhabit that water and the water itself are nothing less, nothing more than gifts from God.

So, then, once I was back home and catching up on things, I began to read about a multi-faith group in Winnipeg who is working on a campaign to help an isolated reserve that has been without clean water for almost two decades. Shoal Lake 40 First Nation – which straddles the Ontario-Manitoba boundary – was cut off from the mainland a century ago when an aqueduct was built to supply fresh water to Winnipeg. The land became an island when crews cut a channel to divert tannin-laden, boggy water coming from Falcon Lake away from the aqueduct intake for Winnipeg. Using gravel carved out from Shoal Lake’s ancestral land, crews built a dam to ensure Winnipeg’s water remained untainted. On one side, contaminated water flows to the residents of Shoal Lake 40 reserve. On the other side, clean water flows to Winnipeg.

Believe me, I’m no expert on this; but this is my understanding of how this works. So what that means is that I/we enjoy the privilege of healthy, clean water because an aqueduct was built cutting water off from Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, allowing it to flow freely into Winnipeg.

The band believes that having an all-weather road is critical to solving its water problems, because supplies could be trucked in to build a treatment plant at a reasonable price. So, because of this, the goal is to build an all-weather road that will resolve the water problems, and also allow residents to make it safely to their front door in good weather and in bad. Reserve residents have said that every year people risk their lives walking across the ice trying to get to their front door.Cuyler Cotton, a policy analyst with the First Nation says, “Having a road means a water treatment plant. It means an economy. It means survival as a community.”

Based on what I’ve read, it seems that it is the Federal Government who is holding back adequate support that could allow this to happen. Now, again, I need to confess that I am no expert on this controversy. I acknowledge that the whole situation is likely significantly more complex than most of us realize. But based on the reading I’ve been doing, I would say that as Christians we have a responsibility to explore what appears to be an extraordinarily unjust situation, and if we – too – conclude that something terrible lies at the heart of it, then do what we can to stand in solidarity with others in attempt to make it right. If indeed, the Federal Government needs to pony up with greater support, then we need to become the voice that challenges them to do so.

So, it is with this horrible situation in mind that we turn to our Gospel for today… Another horrible situation: one which speaks of injustice, cruelty, and the misuse of power. I am referring here, of course, to the story of the death of John the Baptist who dies because he serves as a threat to those in power. It is hard to imagine how or why we can proclaim, “Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ” when this Gospel account is read, but we do, because the underlying intention in this story is a foreshadowing of both the cross and the truth of the resurrection. In other words, the ‘horribleness’ of this story is not the end of the story.

When this story was remembered throughout the first century church, it quickly recalled the resurrection of Jesus, and ideally it will do that for us today. This story highlights the reality of human cruelty; the reality of the abuse of power; the reality of injustice. But because of the circumstances surrounding John’s death, it also recalls the reversal of all this with Jesus’ death and resurrection. All of these dynamics still exist, we don’t have to look too far to see that this is true, but with Jesus’ death and resurrection it no longer has the final word. With Jesus’ resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit, we have been empowered to speak the truth to power; with God’s help we are empowered to fight injustice so that God’s love may be made known in the world.

This morning we heard an excerpt from the letter to the Ephesians, which is largely a letter about living together in the midst of turmoil. This morning’s excerpt includes the message that “God chose us, to be holy and blameless…” Somewhat ironically, through the waters of baptism, we have been adopted by Jesus, and we have a responsibility to carry on his work of justice, and fairness, and peace. There may very well be many different perspectives on this situation in Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, but we need to do our research and do it through the lens of our role as Jesus’ disciples …. And this situation just may be an opportunity for us to live faithfully into that mandate.

And finally, as I reflect on the gift of water: God’s gift to the ongoing creation and sustaining of the world (home to sea creatures; source of life and refreshment to all God’s creatures; the element – through Baptism – that connects us to Jesus…) As I reflect on the gift of water and God’s expectation that it will be accessible to every living creature …. I suggest that our Psalm for today offers some significant insights. As Lissa's reflection on this psalm has pointed out, "...this psalm rejoices that the world belongs to God. This powerful God invited people to seek his face and live to reflect God's character and actions...."The psalm says,

The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world and all who dwell therein.

For it is he who founded it upon the seas and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.

It is God who creates the land, the water, and all the gifts of creation, and he has done so with the expectation that it will be distributed and shared equally.

What does the Lord require of you? To seek justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.

I encourage each of you – if you haven’t already – to do your research, and then - with God's help - do what you can to be channels through which God’s love, justice and peace may shine through such injustices; and with God's help, work together to help make things right. Winnipeg Musician Steven Bell has created a petition that he is urging each of us to sign. The petition is at: http://community.sumofus.org/p/freedomroad. May the people of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation be free to enjoy the gift of cold and refreshing drinks of clean, healthy water......