Luke 10:1-11, 16-20; 7th Sunday after Pentecost
C; July 7, 2013
Grace and
peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, Amen.
Fourscore
and seventy years ago, the Civil War battle at Gettysburg raged on. Tens of
thousands of men died, were wounded, and were captured. For three days, the
borough of Gettysburg was ravaged. Houses were ransacked, public buildings were
transformed into temporary hospitals. All those who lived in Gettysburg either
left town or went into hiding in their cellars. That little town would never be
the same again.
In the past
one hundred fifty years, a lot has changed for Gettysburg. Much of the
vineyards and farmland that were used in the battle are now federal parks. The
battlefields are littered with monuments both large and small, and millions of
people visit that town every year. Every summer, people dress up as Civil War
soldiers and civilians and reenact the battle.
http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/Places/SchmuckerHall-PX.php
In the
midst of all of this, Gettysburg Seminary continues to be a place where future
pastors study the Bible, form leadership skills, and meet Christ so that we may
share the love of God. Since 1826, Gettysburg Seminary has been a place of
growth for Lutherans.
This past
week, July first through third, my beloved seminary celebrated the 150th
Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. Schmucker Hall on campus that was used
during the war by Confederates as a look out has now been transformed into a
world-class museum. Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson was there this week to offer a
few words on this special occasion.
Bishop
Hanson is bringing the history of the Civil War alive for us. Those battles are
not just a mark on the history of this nation. That war reestablished our
loyalty to our country, to our soldiers, and to our values. We are called to
continue the work of freedom and justice that we have learned about throughout
our lives.
In our
history classes, we learned about the generals and the soldiers at the battle
of Gettysburg. We heard about Little Round Top and Picket’s Charge. We saw maps
that showed the strategy that brought the Union and Confederate soldiers
together to fight. But in those history classes, we didn’t hear about some
others who weren’t fighting in battle. Three of these showed bravery,
compassion, and loyalty.
http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/PA/11Pa.php
First,
Sallie. Like many of the regiments at Gettysburg, the Eleventh Pennsylvania
Union regiment had a dog as their mascot. Their dog was named Sallie. On the
first day of battle when the regiment had to move back from their place of
battle, Sallie stayed behind with the dead. She stayed with her deceased
friends and watched over them for four days until the survivors of the regiment
could return after the battle to bury the dead. Sallie’s loyalty was such an
inspiration to her soldiers that they built a monument, a small bronze dog
statue, near where she kept her guard.
http://www.gettysburg.stonesentinels.com/Individuals/Humiston.php
Second, the
Humiston family. Another monument marks where Amos Humiston died. By rank
alone, this sergeant did not deserve a monument, yet his story continues beyond
his death. Humiston, although a father of three, volunteered to go to battle.
Excited by the adventure of war, he fought bravely for his country and cause.
Yet, his excitement did not save his life. At Gettysburg, he was mortally
wounded. Later when the survivors returned to bury him, they found no
identification on his body except a photo of three darling young children
tightly clutched in his hand. This photo was the last thing he saw before he
died.
Not knowing
who he was, this photo of his children was passed from newspaper to newspaper
in the north. From Philadelphia to New York to his hometown of Portville, this
photo was published, asking “Whose father was he?” Through the publication of
this photo, his wife Philanda Humiston learned that her husband was dead and
that her children no longer had a father.
All of
those throughout the North who saw this photo were so moved that they decided
to create an orphanage in Gettysburg for Humiston’s wife and children and for all
of the widows and orphans created by the war. Although her husband was dead, so
many were moved by her story that these strangers reached out to her. This
compassion in the face of war was God’s will.
http://jennie-wade-house.com/
A third
story, my favorite. Mary Virginia Wade, known as Jennie, was a civilian living
in Gettysburg when the war came to her town. When all of the other civilians
either left town or went into hiding, she also went underground. But she
couldn’t bear to stay there. Jennie was engaged to a soldier who was serving in
Virginia. Despite everyone telling her otherwise, Jennie decided that she had to
do something. She wanted to support the Union soldiers who were fighting here,
just like her fiancé was down South.
So, Jennie went to her kitchen to bake biscuits that she would then bring to Union
soldiers. But, through the door to her kitchen, a Confederate sharpshooter saw
her and shot her. Jennie died then, before she could deliver the food that she
so desperately wanted to share with others. Little did she know that her fiancé
was also killed in battle, hundreds of miles away.[1]
These three
stories show us how compassionate people and animals can be, even during the
worst of times. These three, Sallie, Amos, and Jennie show us that there is so
much more to war than rifles, pillaging, and strategy. Like the seventy that
Jesus sent into ministry, these three were sent like lambs into the midst of
wolves. Even though they lost their lives in battle, they were brave, caring,
and compassionate. They didn’t have much with them. One had a wagging tail, one
had a photo, another had biscuits. These three have touched the heart of this
nation because of how they faced adversity.
These three
are all from the Union side, but I am sure that the Confederates had just as
many touching stories. In his You Tube video, Bishop Hanson continues to
describe that Schmucker Hall on the Seminary’s campus was used as a hospital
for both Union and Confederate soldiers. He shares, “There was a common
humanity in their suffering, in their weeping, and their dying. That common
humanity called forth acts of compassion and care from nurses and doctors. What
would it take for us to be such a people today?”[2]
We are
called to continue the work of justice that was reestablished 150 years ago. We
may not have much with us, yet Jesus sends us out to share the good news.
Whenever we feel that we are like lambs sent into the midst of wolves, we can
be comforted by the love of Jesus Christ. Strengthened, prepared, and
encouraged by Christ, we can share the love of God through our own moments of
loyalty, courage, and compassion. Trusting in Christ is what it would take for
us to be such a people today. Amen.
[1] These three
stories come from Hallowed Ground by James M. McPherson (2003).
[2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyrhgWg27ho&feature=youtu.be
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