The Flower Moon Shines over the Sea of Galilee
(The gospel reading can be found scrolling down to the end of the sermons.)
Grace to you and peace from God our Creator, from our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and from our Sustainer, the Holy Spirit. Amen.
There is a scene from the epic, three-and-a-half hour movie; “Killers of the Flower Moon” that I would like to share with you, but first let me set the scene. The film is an adaptation of the book of the same name by David Gran, which tells the story of both the merger of and the clash between two cultures in the 1920’s – the Osage Indian nation and White settlers in the territory of Oklahoma.
It was after the Osage nation of Native Americans had settled on reservation land forced upon them by the federal government that oil was discovered on their land. With their newly discovered oil, the Osage people became extremely wealthy. When the white settlers got wind of their enormous wealth, they embarked upon a widespread conspiracy to steal their wealth through systematic manipulation and murder. One of the most insidious plots was for white men to ingratiate themselves into the lives Osage women, marry them and then, quite literally steal from and murder their own wives and their wives’ families thus inheriting their money. That time is known as the Reign of Terror and it began in May of 1920.
In Osage culture, the full moon of the month of May was called the flower moon and the Reign of Terror began during the month of May – hence the title of the movie. Listen to this description from the book itself of the title, “Killers of the Flower Moon:” “In April, millions of tiny flowers spread over the blackjack hills and vast prairies in the Osage territory of Oklahoma… In May, when coyotes howl beneath an unnervingly large moon, taller plants, such as spiderworts and black-eyed Susans, begin to creep over the tinier blooms… The necks of the smaller flowers break and their petals flutter away, and before long, they are buried underground. This is why the Osage… refer to May as the time of the flower-killing moon.” This accurately describes how the white settlers crept into their lives of the Osage and destroyed them.
It is into this context that the movie centers upon a love story between a white man named Ernest Burkhart played by Leonardo DiCaprio and an Osage woman named Mollie Key played by Lily Gladstone. Here’s the scene. It’s early in the courtship long before they were married; Mollie invites Ernest to her home for dinner. When they are together in her home, it is clear “Ernest is eager to break out the whiskey and see where the night will take them. When a thunderstorm breaks out on the plains and rain begins to pelt through the open window, Ernest rushes to close it but Mollie insists they must sit quietly, listening to the storm, being present to it.” Well, Ernest plays along, but it is clear he is uncomfortable. The effort to be still, to be present, to be immersed in her world is terrifying to him. We see his hands inching toward the whiskey bottle. We see him frighten by the power of the storm while Mollie sits quietly completely at peace.
For Mollie, being present and still and quiet during a thunderstorm is part of her culture, part of who she is, part of being with the Great Spirit. She invites Ernest into her world. Perhaps she was saying, thinking – “Come, follow me, Ernest. Follow me into this storm. Leave behind your fears. Believe there is peace and goodness here with me in my world.”
Isn’t that the same invitation Jesus is making to Simon and his brother Andrew, James and his brother John and to anyone who will listen? Jesus is extending an invitation into a new world. “Come follow me…the time is now. God, the Great Spirit is near; turn towards me, believe in goodness. Enter into my world. Be present with me. You will never be alone.”
We know Simon and Andrew, James and John and the additional disciples did what Ernest could not do. They dropped everything and followed while Ernest was stuck – stuck in destruction and evil. Stuck in fear and loathing. Stuck in an addiction to power and greed.
Listen to how one film critic describes the consequences:
In this silent moment, two very different systems of meaning and value are on display, differences more profound than the clothing one wears to a celebration (referring to their wedding clothes that reflected each of their cultures)…Mollie is inviting Ernest into another way of being with her. But to join her would require silence on Ernest’s part, a patience to listen, a willingness to do/be something/someone new. This is something Ernest cannot do, to devastating ends. But, in its slow unfolding and refusal to pontificate, the film may be making the same invitation to viewers.
The same invitation to you and me. And, yes, the same invitation Jesus makes to those fishermen. Let me give you a very practical, real example of what I am getting at. Let me bring this home for us in a way that involves all of us here today and defines what it means to be a relevant church in the real world.
Just like in our gospel story, did you know that Jesus is asking people in our community to stop what they are doing, to drop their fishing nets for a little bit, and follow him to Holy Trinity next Sunday at 1pm. Why? To enter into a mother’s story of her journey with her trans daughter – but not just their journey, but also God’s journey with them. Next Sunday, Jamie Bruesehoff will be here to share her story in the book she wrote called, “Raising Kids Beyond the Binary – Celebrating God’s Transgender and Gender Diverse Children.”
Now, why do I say Jesus is making the invitation? Well, we are the Body of Christ. On this side of the resurrection, on this side of Easter, the body of Jesus is the church. The church is Jesus. We, the body of Christ, are extending an invitation. So, yes, Jesus is inviting the community, “Come and see!” Come and see for yourself how God is blessing children and youth who happen to be transitioning. God is blessing gender-diverse children!
God is blessing gender-diverse children. Do you know how radical that statement is if spoken in certain religious communities? Do you know how dangerous that statement is if spoken in certain political circles? Do you know how deadly that statement is if spoken in certain countries around the world including our own?
The truth is that so many, like Ernest, in the movie, are stuck. Stuck in hatred and fear of those who are different. Stuck in addiction to political power and the evil direction of political leaders. Stuck in bullying and hurting. Stuck in marginalizing and destroying. Stuck in bad theology and misuse of scripture. Stuck in using church to hurt and exploit.
We will not be that church, but rather we will follow Jesus when he invites us to be with his people, specifically with those who will gather next Sunday at 1pm. Now, even if this subject makes you uncomfortable or does not seem to impact you, even if you have little interest or experience, even if this world seems far off, please prayerfully consider being present next Sunday at 1pm. Be present if only to create community. Be present if only to be hospitable. Be present if only to learn. Be present if only to be with people in the midst of their storms. Be present if only to do – as Easter people, as people living on this side of the resurrection, if only to do what Ernest could not do – enter into Mollie’s world, enter into Jamie and Rebekah’s world and experience the presence of the divine, the Great Spirit in others.
Listen to an excerpt from Jamie Bruesehoff’s book about her transgender child, Rebekah – both of whom will be here for the Sunday morning service and for the 1pm presentation. At the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, we work with a world-class team of medical professionals for all of Rebekah’s gender-related care. When we first met with Dr. Hawkins, a psychotherapist and codirector at the clinic, Rebekah was eight years old. First, Dr. Hawkins spoke with me and my husband, and then she left to talk with Rebekah. When Dr. Hawkins returned to the office where we were waiting, she had tears in her eyes. While getting to know Rebekah [who was eight years old at the time], she asked Rebekah how she would respond to someone who didn’t understand what it means to be transgender. Rebekah’s honest answer was simple and clear: “Being transgender means being who God created me to be.”
In a few moments, Jesus invites you to drop everything, come forward, enjoy his feast and celebrate who God created you to be. Amen.
The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 1st chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.
14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”
16As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.
The Gospel of our Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.