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1 March, 2020, Rooke Chapel, Bucknell University
Galatians 5:13-18, 22-25

We are together here at the end of Black history month and at the beginning of Women’s history month. In this space and at this time, I feel compelled to call some names of folks who have gone on to be saints, to be our cherished ancestors. Nanny of the Maroons. Sojourner Truth. Harriet Tubman. Yaa Asantewaa. Ida B. Wells. Rosa Parks. Fannie Lou Hamer. June Jordan. Audre Lorde. Shirley Chisolm. Toni Morrison. Carmen Gillespie. We are blessed that they are our ancestors.

Let us pray. Oh God, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, our Strength and our Redeemer. And those gathered who could said, Amen.

I was excited to learn that the theme of contemplation this semester is “Fruit of the Spirit.” Nothing is quite as illustrative of new weather, new possibilities, of alchemy, magic, growth, change, transformation as fruit. And I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately about transformation. I’m interested in transforming spaces and relationships, economies of power and privilege, experiences and contexts of marginality and oppression, gluten-free flours into fluffy croissant… For me the process of transformation is at once magical and adventurous, filled with imagination, grounded by a belief in someones, somethings, some ways, sometimes… better.

The Galatians weren’t eating well.  And as a result, they weren’t getting the essential vitamins and minerals that they needed for a healthy body.  Paul was trying to deal with this in his letter.

In the end of the verses read for today, Paul teaches that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” The FRUIT, he says. Singular. Not “fruits” and then this list, but fruiT. We have to ask – or at least I do – how big is it? Is it like a grapefruit? A cantaloupe? A pumpkin? I mean, what kind of fruit is all of those things at once? But then, maybe that’s the wrong question. Maybe we should be thinking about something else. So let’s meditate together this morning on the question, “What is the seed of the fruit of the Spirit?” Now, in the style of black church, of call and response traditions, I want you to turn to your neighbor and say, “neighbor,” “what is the seed,” “of the fruit of the Spirit?” And turn to another neighbor and say, “I don’t know but it must be huge.” Just kidding.

1.19.20, Rooke Chapel Congregation
Galatians 5: 1, 13-25

Welcome back, friends,
to our humble Ecumenical Christian Worship service.
The angels’ songs have quieted.  And the wise travelers from the east have returned home by another road.
And we are here again in the midst of holy, ordinary time,
to sing, pray, worship God, and love one another.
We will ponder, this semester,
“the fruit of the spirit.”
Laid out in Galatians Chapter 5,
and we will encourage our seniors,
to come share the pulpit,
and share with us how
“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, ²³gentleness, and self-control”
shape their lives.
Or how they might like them to,
 
This is Paul’s reminder,
that life is Christ can look different,
that things do not have to be the way they have always been.
not because we’re bound to a different set of rules,
but because we are free,
to grow in real and deep love.
 
The only thing that matters,
he says in verse 6,
is faith working through love.
 
Our seniors – those who have signed up to speak, and those who haven’t! –
we’ll encourage to take one of these fruits,
or one of the many more we could conjure,
justice, humility, perseverance, etc.
Paul’s list is not meant to be exclusive,
simply instructive.
to take those fruits and run
with whatever they might inspire or evoke in their lives.
 
But today, I thought,
we’d examine the fruit,
in its context,
We’ve all likely encountered this snippet of scripture, disembodied,
as church banners,
or wall hangings,
“fruit of the month” calendars
or personal prayer guides.
Warm, inviting, positive.
But it’s wedged,
actually amidst some passionate and fascinating discourse.
Those who would suggest that scripture,
or theology is boring,
would do well to read Paul’s letter to the Galatians.
In which he calls his readers fools,
his detractors, dogs,
and suggests that those who advocate the necessity of circumcision,
might consider castration instead. (actually, though.)
 
But, we’re getting ahead of ourselves.