Many years ago I read a cartoon that I still haunts me occasionally. In the cartoon a fellow was sitting under a tree talking with his friend and said very thoughtfully, "Sometimes I just want to ask God why God allows hunger, poverty and war in the world." His friend says, "Well, why don't you?" The fellow answers, "Because I'm afraid God might ask me the same question!"
The old testament reading about Jubilee in Leviticus is the basis of the celebration here at Holden that takes place the third Thursday in July. It is a day of fun and food and joyful activities, but it is also a day of giving. The highlight of the day is an auction of items donated by staff, guests and friends of Holden. All the proceeds from the auction are given away to a worthy organization doing the work of God in the world. This year we are donating the proceeds to L'arche Tahoma Hope, a L'arche organization in Tacoma. The total numbers are not in yet, but as of this evening we raised around $6,000.
The day was punctuated by a Eucharist service on the village green. The sermon was given by one of the guest teaching staff, Ingrid Christenson. She preached on the text from Luke 4 where Jesus reads from Isaiah, "I have come to preach good news to the poor and proclaim freedom for the prisoners and free the oppressed." Ingrid works with prisoners in Cook County Jail in Chicago and had an inspirational message about that.
Holden is all about learning about peace and justice issues and this day brings a message of hope that we all need to hear as often as possible. We are challenged to learn about and discuss many related issues and we are challenged to work for these in the world.
Maybe we all need to ask the question, "Why do we allow hunger, poverty and war in the world?" And try to do something about it.
The old testament reading about Jubilee in Leviticus is the basis of the celebration here at Holden that takes place the third Thursday in July. It is a day of fun and food and joyful activities, but it is also a day of giving. The highlight of the day is an auction of items donated by staff, guests and friends of Holden. All the proceeds from the auction are given away to a worthy organization doing the work of God in the world. This year we are donating the proceeds to L'arche Tahoma Hope, a L'arche organization in Tacoma. The total numbers are not in yet, but as of this evening we raised around $6,000.
The day was punctuated by a Eucharist service on the village green. The sermon was given by one of the guest teaching staff, Ingrid Christenson. She preached on the text from Luke 4 where Jesus reads from Isaiah, "I have come to preach good news to the poor and proclaim freedom for the prisoners and free the oppressed." Ingrid works with prisoners in Cook County Jail in Chicago and had an inspirational message about that.
Holden is all about learning about peace and justice issues and this day brings a message of hope that we all need to hear as often as possible. We are challenged to learn about and discuss many related issues and we are challenged to work for these in the world.
Maybe we all need to ask the question, "Why do we allow hunger, poverty and war in the world?" And try to do something about it.
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