For this third Sunday in Creation Time, Rev. Cari opened up with the question from Exodus 17:1-7: “Is Our God with us or not?” then turned to the Philippians text (2:1-13) to answer it.

Thanks to her summer school course at VST with Dr. Cynthia Rigby, Cari opened up the doctrine of the Incarnation, exploring the movement of kenosis then theosis in this beautiful Pauline text.

Given that we are also days before “Orange Shirt Day” in Canada, she also wonders about settler-Indigenous relations, and the use of power that has created the systemic injustice we are now facing. Jesus’ emptying of his divine authority and privilege in solidarity with humans is the model for our relationships, now.

She closes the sermon with an invitation to everyone in this COVID time: “Befriend your suffering. Inquire into your weakness. Rather than denying or trying to conquer your frailty, welcome it.” In this way, we assume the “mind” of Christ, and, in all humility, open ourselves to be lifted by grace.