My sermon on Joan of Arc
For those of you have known me for a while, a year or so ago, without giving up any of my other spiritual paths or interests, I came home again to a practice of Christian spirituality. My parish has invited me to deliver the sermon a few times. Yesterday I was privileged to talk about my name-saint, Joan of Arc (my middle name is Jeanne). My sermon a year ago was on The Divine Fool, given while dressed as the card from the tarot deck. :-)
Sermon on Joan of Arc, by Lola Jeanne McCrary
Delivered at Grace North Church, Berkeley, CA on 19 October, 2008.
This sermon was delivered sitting in the pews with the congregation.
Readings before the sermon (please note that Grace North has a custom that one reading is from a non-Christian tradition).
1st reading:
When I am baffled in some manner, because someone does not wish to credit the things that I speak on the part of God, I retire apart, and I pray to God, complaining that those to whom I speak are hard of belief. My prayer to God finished, I hear a Voice that says to me: "Daughter of God, go, go, go; I will aid thee, go." And when I hear this Voice I have great joy. I would like always to hear it."
Joan, in response to question asked by Charles VII.
2nd reading:
Believers, seek assistance in patience and prayer, Allah is with those who are patient. Do not say that those killed in the Way of Allah are dead, they are alive, although you are unaware. We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, and decrease of goods, life and fruits. Give glad tidings to the patient, who, in adversity say: “We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.” On those will be prayers and mercy from their Lord, those are guided.
Islam, Qur'an 2.153-57.
Sermon:
Joan heard voices. The voices of her family who loved their young daughter and their two sons. The voices of her playmates celebrating the old ways as well as Christian ways. She heard chatting voices in her village talking about how the English raped, and killed and stole from people just like her. She heard the voice of parish priests telling her that God loved her, and that she should love him and listen to him. She heard the voices of her relatives telling her how to be a good girl, and how to prepare to be a good wife.
Joan heard voices. She heard the voice of the wind in the trees, and the voices of the animals around her.
Joan heard voices. Voices that said they were angels and saints, and that they spoke for God. These voices affirmed many things her other voices had told her: That she was loved by God, that the people of France were suffering, and that she should listen to God. These voices told her something new: that only through her actions could the suffering of France be ended, that she was to go to her prince, lead his troops to victory against the English, and have him crowned as king. After a year, Joan believed those voices.
Joan heard voices. Voices of friends and family telling her that she was wrong. Voices of strangers telling her that a peasant girl could not do these things. Voices telling her to go home and obey her parents.
Joan heard voices. Voices that said, I believe you and I will help you. The voices of clerics saying, we see no falsehood here. The voice of her prince saying, let’s see what you can do. The voice of troops saying, you were right: we can defeat the English. The voice of a bishop saying, “Charles, I consecrate you king of France.”
Joan heard voices. Voices that said, we no longer need you, you are on your own. Voices that called for the premature closing of a gate. Voices that said, you are our prisoner and we will sell you to the English.
Joan heard voices. Voices that said, you are a witch and a heretic. Voices that said, how dare you wear men’s clothes and not obey the church? Voices that said, deny your voices or we will burn you at the stake.
Joan heard voices. Voices of angels and saints who said, speak the truth, and trust God.
Joan heard final voices. Voices that gave her absolution and communion. Voices that said, you are beyond God’s grace and our burning you is a foretaste of what God will do to you. Voices that jeered and condemned.
Joan heard her own voice, over the voice of the flames, saying over and over again, Jesus. Jesus.
We hear voices. Voices of family and friends saying, do you think you are better than we are? Voices of experts telling us, you couldn’t possibly be right about that. Voices that say, why are you making it so hard on yourself? Voices that say, come home and be just like us. Voices that say, you’re sick. Voices that say, forget all your grandiose ideas and plans.
We hear voices. Voices that say, you aren’t crazy. Voices that say, trust yourself. Voices that say, we’ll figure this out together. Voices that say, no matter how hard it is, I’ll be here for you. Voices that say, God does speak to you.
We hear voices. Voices in music and stillness. Voices in air, earth, water and fire. Voices from the animals we share our world with. Voices hidden in the pages of books. Unexpected voices speaking with surprising clarity. Voices that say, I am God and you are my beloved.
God hears voices. Voices that say, where are you? Voices that say, why is this so hard? Voices that say, I want to believe in you and in myself. Voices that say, no matter what, I will try. Voices that say, I choose to be of service and to contribute. Voices that say, help. And, thank you.
Sermon on Joan of Arc, by Lola Jeanne McCrary
Delivered at Grace North Church, Berkeley, CA on 19 October, 2008.
This sermon was delivered sitting in the pews with the congregation.
Readings before the sermon (please note that Grace North has a custom that one reading is from a non-Christian tradition).
1st reading:
When I am baffled in some manner, because someone does not wish to credit the things that I speak on the part of God, I retire apart, and I pray to God, complaining that those to whom I speak are hard of belief. My prayer to God finished, I hear a Voice that says to me: "Daughter of God, go, go, go; I will aid thee, go." And when I hear this Voice I have great joy. I would like always to hear it."
Joan, in response to question asked by Charles VII.
2nd reading:
Believers, seek assistance in patience and prayer, Allah is with those who are patient. Do not say that those killed in the Way of Allah are dead, they are alive, although you are unaware. We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, and decrease of goods, life and fruits. Give glad tidings to the patient, who, in adversity say: “We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.” On those will be prayers and mercy from their Lord, those are guided.
Islam, Qur'an 2.153-57.
Sermon:
Joan heard voices. The voices of her family who loved their young daughter and their two sons. The voices of her playmates celebrating the old ways as well as Christian ways. She heard chatting voices in her village talking about how the English raped, and killed and stole from people just like her. She heard the voice of parish priests telling her that God loved her, and that she should love him and listen to him. She heard the voices of her relatives telling her how to be a good girl, and how to prepare to be a good wife.
Joan heard voices. She heard the voice of the wind in the trees, and the voices of the animals around her.
Joan heard voices. Voices that said they were angels and saints, and that they spoke for God. These voices affirmed many things her other voices had told her: That she was loved by God, that the people of France were suffering, and that she should listen to God. These voices told her something new: that only through her actions could the suffering of France be ended, that she was to go to her prince, lead his troops to victory against the English, and have him crowned as king. After a year, Joan believed those voices.
Joan heard voices. Voices of friends and family telling her that she was wrong. Voices of strangers telling her that a peasant girl could not do these things. Voices telling her to go home and obey her parents.
Joan heard voices. Voices that said, I believe you and I will help you. The voices of clerics saying, we see no falsehood here. The voice of her prince saying, let’s see what you can do. The voice of troops saying, you were right: we can defeat the English. The voice of a bishop saying, “Charles, I consecrate you king of France.”
Joan heard voices. Voices that said, we no longer need you, you are on your own. Voices that called for the premature closing of a gate. Voices that said, you are our prisoner and we will sell you to the English.
Joan heard voices. Voices that said, you are a witch and a heretic. Voices that said, how dare you wear men’s clothes and not obey the church? Voices that said, deny your voices or we will burn you at the stake.
Joan heard voices. Voices of angels and saints who said, speak the truth, and trust God.
Joan heard final voices. Voices that gave her absolution and communion. Voices that said, you are beyond God’s grace and our burning you is a foretaste of what God will do to you. Voices that jeered and condemned.
Joan heard her own voice, over the voice of the flames, saying over and over again, Jesus. Jesus.
We hear voices. Voices of family and friends saying, do you think you are better than we are? Voices of experts telling us, you couldn’t possibly be right about that. Voices that say, why are you making it so hard on yourself? Voices that say, come home and be just like us. Voices that say, you’re sick. Voices that say, forget all your grandiose ideas and plans.
We hear voices. Voices that say, you aren’t crazy. Voices that say, trust yourself. Voices that say, we’ll figure this out together. Voices that say, no matter how hard it is, I’ll be here for you. Voices that say, God does speak to you.
We hear voices. Voices in music and stillness. Voices in air, earth, water and fire. Voices from the animals we share our world with. Voices hidden in the pages of books. Unexpected voices speaking with surprising clarity. Voices that say, I am God and you are my beloved.
God hears voices. Voices that say, where are you? Voices that say, why is this so hard? Voices that say, I want to believe in you and in myself. Voices that say, no matter what, I will try. Voices that say, I choose to be of service and to contribute. Voices that say, help. And, thank you.