“A totally unheard of generosity of spirit”

By Rev. Michael Stonhouse

Meditation – Thursday, July 4, 2024 Matthew 5: 43-48 (Forward, p. 67) CEV p. 987)

I wonder whether George Exton Lloyd, after whom Lloydminster is named, and John Matheson, the pioneer missionary at Onion Lake First Nation, ever talked politics. In particular, I wonder if they ever discussed ‘the Indian Question’, as it was then known. If they had, it would have been a most interesting conversation, one that I would have loved to have listened in on.

You see, I have most certainly read that they were friends, as well as both being Anglican priests here under the auspices of the Church Missionary Society (CMS). But here the similarity ends. Matheson had been raised in the Red River Colony of Manitoba, was fluent in Cree, and was no doubt very familiar to the plight of the Metis in that area (and largely sympathetic to their cause.). Indeed, such was his sympathy that he gave his prized Winchester rifle to Gabriel Dumont, who would later distinguish himself as the de-facto military leader of the Metis at Duck Lake and Batoche. George Exton Lloyd, however, served on the other side, with the Queen’s Own Rifles of Toronto. And yet they were friends. Indeed, Matheson was the one who marshalled his Onion Lake parishioners into helping build Lloyd’s Log Church.

Today, in our world that generosity of spirit is almost unheard of. The battle lines are drawn everywhere, pro-carbon tax or pro-oilfield, climate change or climate denialism, sexual or gender identity, immigration pro or con, pro-Gaza or pro-Israel. There seems to be no middle ground, no talking point. And when it comes to provincial/ state or federal politics, it is even worse. Everything seems to be partisan, rigidly defined by party lines and loyalties.

And yet, that generosity of spirit is exactly what Jesus calls us to in today’s reading from the Sermon on the Mount. We are to do more than simply tolerate or put up with those we dislike or disagree with. No, we are to love them and pray for them. Indeed, we are to show the same generous love as God demonstrates with His love for everyone no matter who they might be or what they have done. We are to be like Him. Oh, if you’re at all like me, boy, have we ever got a long way to go.

Forward notes: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (verse 44).

“I grew up in the Roman Catholic tradition. Last Fourth of July, my mother invited me to pray the rosary for each state in the United States with some friends from her Roman Catholic congregation. My mother warned me they were more politically conservative than I am but were excited to have me join them. I decided to go to the prayer service. The friends were pleased to meet me and said they prayed for my ministry as a priest.

“A few weeks before, I participated in an Interfaith Pride Shabbat service. That evening, and the following day at my town’s Pride celebration, many people shared about the religious trauma they had suffered as members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I affirmed the unfairness of their pain. Many people were (gratefully) shocked that a church had a table at Pride. But at one point, an angry man approached my parish’s table and shouted Bible verses about sin at me. Navigating division is never easy, but God’s invitation to celebrate together remains open.”

Moving Forward: “The next time someone makes you angry, imagine sitting beside them at the heavenly banquet.”