<html><body><div>Part 2</div><div><br></div><div>Bob</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><font face="Arial" size="2"> If you’ve heard or read of the early twentieth-century German theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, you may see a similar focus on God and God’s Love as shown in Jesus. Bonhoeffer, though in a different way that Stephen’s saw that it was impossible </font><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:
normal"><u><font face="Arial" size="2">NOT</font></u></b><font face="Arial" size="2"> to proclaim the Gospel through deeds as well as words. He was arrested for his involvement in a plot to kill Hitler and sentenced to death.</font><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-indent:.5in"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>“The camp doctor who witnessed the execution of Bonhoeffer later wrote, ‘I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer … kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.’” <sup>1</sup></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Two who showed what it’s like to live a diaconal life, though at different times, who lived with Jesus, and lived <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>AS</u></b> Jesus, to the extreme embarrassment and anger of the authorities; these two, along with countless others, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>SAW</u></b> Jesus, even in the shadow of the valley of death, and walked with Him to the end of their earthly lives.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Of course, those with the power in Stephen’s day felt that if they simply kept silencing or killing Jesus’ followers, sooner or later, these followers, these diaconal ministers, would get the message, and the movement would die out. But they underestimated grossly the Love of God.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Fortunately for us, for the past two thousand years, women and men have gone about their ministries just as Stephen did. They’ve sat at the bedside of the sick and dying; they’ve engaged and educated children and youth; they’ve worked to make sure that everyone knows about all the social needs present in the community, and have opened doors, or at least banged hard and long on them doors that others have shut and locked; banged and opened, trying to force a response of compassion and care.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>We need to remind ourselves of the role of diaconal ministry and how we all have to be engaged, with each generation of deacons, in following Stephen and, above all, trusting and believing like Stephen; seeing Jesus like Stephen, no matter how frightening the people and the world may appear.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>As Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. …”</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Oh well, you know the rest. No matter who comes after you; no matter whether they try to abuse you with words and mess with your minds, and try to take away your dignity and your certainty; no matter if they come after you with all sorts of weapons – no matter – no matter what – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><u>DON’T WORRY</u></b>. You’re safe! You’ll always be safe! Even when it hurts!</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 51); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Suzanne Guthrie wrote, “Christ </span><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>prepares a place but just as I get there he disappears, just as he did at Emmaus. For he is going to prepare the <i>next</i> place for me. For in the house of the Holy One there are many mansions/ dwelling places/ resting places/ rooms. Teresa of Avila said, ‘Let us now imagine that this castle, as I have said, contains many mansions, some above, others below, others at each side; and in the center and midst of them all is the chiefest mansion where the most secret things pass between God and the soul.’ Each sphere of consciousness draws me forward toward the next sphere. And when I shed my body will this pattern continue from glory to glory, from intimacy to intimacy, toward the Throne, the Source, the Uncreated Light, pure Love? I don't know, but I'm guessing so.”<sup> 2</sup></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>In the introduction to her translation of Teresa of Avila’s “The Interior Castle”, Mirabai Starr gave some fascinating insights and encouragement – and challenges.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 51); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“There </span><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>is a secret place.” She wrote. “A radiant sanctuary. As real as your own kitchen. More real than that. Constructed of the purest elements. Overflowing with the ten thousand beautiful things. Worlds within worlds. Forests, rivers. Velvet coverlets thrown over featherbeds, fountains bubbling beneath a canopy of stars. Bountiful forests, universal libraries. A wine cellar offering an intoxication so sweet you will never be sober again. A clarity so complete you will never again forget.<br><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“This magnificent refuge is inside you. Enter. … Put away the incense and forget the incantations they taught you. Ask no permission from the authorities. Slip away. Close your eyes and follow your breath to the still place that leads to the invisible path that leads you home.” <sup>3</sup> Seek and see Jesus.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>It’s not that there isn’t anything in the world and in our lives to scare us. There’s plenty. Yet, knowing that all shall be well; knowing that Stephen’s descendants will always be there to encourage us and show us how to face our fears; we live in faith and hope, we live in love and service.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Thank you, Stephen! Thank you, Teresa! Thank you, Peggy!</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>NOTES:</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style='margin: 0px; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>[1]</span></span></span></span></span><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>Biography Online – Dietrich Bonhoeffer Biography <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwis8cSR_eHTAhXqq1QKHTE0DNUQFggmMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biographyonline.net%2Fspiritual%2Fdietrich-bonhoeffer.html&usg=AFQjCNE7bHIXN75lNhOMxA-KFh_y9AmNkQ" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff">sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwis8cSR_eHTAhXqq1QKHTE0DNUQFggmMAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biographyonline.net%2Fspiritual%2Fdietrich-bonhoeffer.html&usg=AFQjCNE7bHIXN75lNhOMxA-KFh_y9AmNkQ</font></a> <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>2</span></span><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>“</span><i><span style='margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 51); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>At the Edge of the Enclosure Soulwork Toward Sunday: Liturgical Year as Mystical Journey Self-Guided Retreat”</span></i><span style='margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 51); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'> </span><span style='margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 51); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'> <span style="margin: 0px;">Easter 5 (Year A)</span> <span style="margin: 0px;">May 14, 2017</span> <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span><strong><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: normal;'>“Many Mansions” by </span></strong><span style='margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 51); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>Suzanne Guthrie <a href="http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/easter5a.html"><font color="#0000ff">http://www.edgeofenclosure.org/easter5a.html</font></a></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'>3</span></span><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">“The Interior Castle, St. Teresa of Avila, A New Translation and Introduction”</i> by Mirabai Starr, The Berkly Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group, New York © 2003</span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal;"><span style='margin: 0px; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;'><br></span></p></div></body></html>