Kahu's Manao
First Sunday after Epiphany
Baptism of Jesus
‘Aha ‘Aina Wai Maka
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Rev. Kealahou C. Alika
“Affirmed by Love”
Isaiah
43:1-7 & Luke
3:15-17, 21-22
“Fences” is a play that was written by American playwright August Wilson. The play is set in the 1950’s and represents the sixth in Wilson’s ten-part Pittsburgh Cycle.
The play explores the African-American experience and examines race relations, among a number of other themes. The play premiered at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut in 1983 and earned Wilson the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and a Tony Award for Best Actor for James Earl Jones.
It is not difficult to see why Jones received the award for Best Actor. In one of several powerful and stunning scenes Cory asks his father Troy, who is played by Jones, a question.
Because of some very strong language in the play I have done a bit of self-editing. The power of the play is evident in the original text. Even with the editing, I hope you will have a sense of Wilson’s remarkable ear for the dramatic and passionate.
Cory: How come you ain’t never liked me?
Troy: Like you? Who the hell say I got to like you? What law is there say I got to like you? Wanna stand up in my face and ask a damn fool question like that. Talking about liking somebody. Come here, boy, when I talk to you. Straighten up, dammit! I asked you a question . . . what law is there say I got to like you?
Cory: None.
Troy: Well, alright then! Don’t you eat every day?
Cory: Yeah.
Troy: As long as you in my house, you put that sir on the end of it when you talk to me!
Cory: Yes . . . sir.
Troy: You eat every day.
Cory: Yessir!
Troy: Got a roof over your head.
Cory: Yessir!
Troy: Got clothes on your back.
Cory: Yessir!
Troy: Why you think that is?
Cory: Cause of you.
Troy: Aw, hell I know it’s ‘cause of me . . . but why do you think that is?
Cory: (Hesistant.) Cause you like me.
Troy: Like you? I go out of here every morning . . . bust my butt . . . putting up with them crackers every day . . . cause I like you? You about the biggest fool I ever saw.
(Pause.)
It’s my job. It’s my responsibility! You understand that? A man got to take care of his family. You live in my house . . . sleep you behind on my bedclothes . . . fill you belly up with my food . . . cause you my son. You my flesh and blood. Not ‘cause I like you! Cause it’s my duty to take care of you. I owe a responsibility to you!
Let’s get this straight right here . . . before you go any further . . . I ain’t got to like you. Mr. Rand don’t give me my money come payday cause he likes me. He gives me cause he owe me. I done give you everything I had to give you. I gave you your life! Me and your mama worked that out between us. And liking . . . (you) wasn’t part of the bargain. Don’t you try and go through life worrying about if somebody like you or not. You best be making sure they doing right by you. You understand what I’m saying, boy?Cory: Yessir!
Troy: Then get the hell out of my face . . .
(Fences, August Wilson, Penguin Group, New York, New York, 1986, pages 37-38)
That exchange between father and son is often shown as an excerpt from the Broadway production of the play when a review is made of the film and stage career of James Earl Jones. I remember the first time I saw it I was overwhelmed by conflicting emotions – some anger and some frustration but also some sadness and regret.
Within the play itself Cory develops a long-standing resentment against his father. It is a resentment we understand. Cory returns home from war, and after initially refusing to go to his father’s funeral, his mother convinces him to pay his respects to his father. Like his mother Rose we come to realize with some reluctance that although his father may have been poor at demonstrating his affection, he nevertheless loved his son.
Our reading from The Gospel According to Luke is a story about the love of a “father” for his son. If Wilson’s story was fraught with anger and fear, Luke’s story is filled with joy and hope.
We find ourselves at the end of John’s ministry and at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. What connects them to one another is Jesus’ baptism.
Many are wondering if John is the Messiah, but John lets everyone know that someone more powerful than he is coming. John’s preparation for the Messiah will end with his own imprisonment by Herod. Jesus ministry will be marked by his baptism and it will be at his baptism that he is affirmed by God’s love.
There is no need for Jesus to ask the question Cory asked. It will be at his baptism that Jesus will come to understand the need to depend upon the Holy Spirit and his connection to God in prayer for the spiritual strength and stamina he will need to go into the world and make a difference in people’s lives. (Feasting on the Word, Bartlett & Taylor, Westminster/John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, 2009, page 238) It is an understanding that also will shape the generations of those who follow in his footsteps.
I sometimes wonder if we lose sight of the transformative and healing power of God’s love because we hear it said too often. Have we grown too jaded in our appreciation for what happened at Jesus’ baptism when a voice came from heaven saying, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22)
One of my mother’s lasting gifts to me and to my siblings was her ability to always remind us of her love for us. I have shared with you on other occasions that it was a tradition in our family for the children to call home during the holidays especially during Christmas to speak to her.
If we happen to be living away from home at the time on another island or in another state, the conversation would always end with familiar words of encouragement and concern: “Take care!” And then she would say: “Love you.”
To which we would respond: “Love you too.”
I shared with you last Sunday that I met family members of my biological father for the first time on New Year’s Day. At the close of the evening when Auntie Janet was about to leave to return to an adult care home, there was a bit of commotion. Everyone was reminded that the annual picture-taking of all family members was a tradition that was not going to be overlooked.
After more than enough photographs were taken of aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, cousins, grandchildren and spouses I heard someone say, “Love you.” I am not certain who said it or to whom it was said but I heard it said very, very clearly.
It startled me since I was always accustomed to hearing it from the family members of my biological mother. I know that what my mother had taught us was a lesson others learned. But I knew at least with the family members of my biological father that I was hearing the affirmation of love for the first time and that that included me.
We may want to quibble about today’s lesson and insist that we know the story of God’s love for Jesus - that we have heard the story before; that we know God loved him; and that in the same way God’s love for Jesus was affirmed at his baptism so it is that God’s love for us has been affirmed at our own baptism. But it may be that someone here is hearing the story for the first time.
The God who has created us and formed us says to each of us: “Do not fear for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Each of us created and formed by God have been redeemed and called by name: not simply as Mei Shan or Brandis or Stephen or John but as Beloved . . .
As we gather here today for our ‘Aha ‘Aina Wai Maka, we also remember those who are no longer with us whom God has called by name and redeemed: Beloved . . .
Rachel Puni Poepoe Kalua Merle E. Kekuku Verona Ronnie Kekuku Dr. Christina Raj William Curtis Richter, MD J. Arthur Shoquist Sally Weaklend Marjorie Caringer Elizabeth Champion Ralph Gilbert Neil Gough Barbara Miller Wayne Musser Hiroyasu Nagasawa Mitsuo Nagasawa Leon R. Rokicki Mary E. Thompson The Rev. James Whittaker |
Robert Lopaka Poepoe Wendell H. Arnold Betty Havill Allen Kalehua Wong George Waipuna Ferreira Richard Earl Michels Pauline Johns DeWitt Robert Kalani, Jr. Cynthia Bailey Cataldo Justin Howard Morren James Cummings Elizabeth Keanona Dando James Owen Dando Dorothy W. Edwards Kenneth C. Edwards Helen Estep |
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