UJIMA
Luke 2: 22-40
A Christmas and Kwanzaa Meditation
by the Reverend Odette Lockwood-Stewart

There is an East African story about a very old man, a healer, named Modupe, who lived high on a mountain top all by himself.  But he was not lonely.  His friends and neighbors lived just down the mountainside in the valley below.  One day... Modupe... set his mountaintop home on fire! He did this... in order to save his neighbors... from a flood.  For you see, when the villagers saw smoke and flames coming from Modupe’s house, they all rushed up the mountainside to save their neighbor.  Even those who could not walk were carried to help as it was the practice and experience of the people that every one was needed.  When the villagers reached Modupe’s house, suddenly they heard a crash and roar from below.

They looked down and saw that the dam had burst and flood waters were raging through the valley, destroying their homes, their crops, everything.

Weeping over all they lost in the flood and fire, the villagers soon realized that, by coming to save Modupe, they had saved themselves. Modupe offered to share his crops, and they knew they would rebuild community together.  

I am moved by Modupe’s sacrifice.  I am inspired by his name, which means, “I am grateful.”  But this year, this Christmas, this Kwanzaa in particular, the power of the story for me rests in the truth that Modupe knew how to save his community, because he knew they would show up for him.  

Today, the third day of Kwanzaa we honor the principle of Ujima.
'Ujima' is an East African word that refers to sharing the work of
building community.  

Together we must climb the mountainside, the hillside, we must cross the street, the room, the chasms of pride, perceived self-interest, fear, judgment and prejudice.  Now, right now, we must show up for others to do the hard work of up building of community, for in so doing, we will be saved.

It is easy to demolish, to tear down.  But it is essential to edify, to build up.  Everyone.  Everyday.  Harambee!

This morning we also celebrate the first Sunday after Christmas.  In Luke’s Gospel we read the story of Simeon and Anna, two elders in the Temple in Jerusalem who welcome the child Jesus as fulfillment of their lives, their devotion, their vision.

Mary and Joseph, a young, poor couple traveled from Nazareth, to Jerusalem, to Bethlehem to Jerusalem.  They came to the Temple to fulfill a ritual of faith, presenting their son to God with a humble offering.  

God came to us as a child – evoking love.
God came to us as a poor child- evoking a crisis of care.
God came to us as one who would save through self-giving love – evoking community.

The expansion of the Holy Family begins with the testimony of these two elders, Simeon and Anna.  The expansion of the Holy Family remains the work of community and the assurance of faith.
Our understanding of our nation ... and its place in the global community ... is before us in new ways as we await the inauguration of Barack Obama in the inspiring ritual of a peaceful transfer of power that is a strength of our democracy.

We do and will have disagreements about the politics of our new president.  We do and will have disagreements over his choices of who will serve, who will speak, and even who will pray.  

But we cannot possibly overstate, and we must not ever overlook, the profound impact of the election of this man of color as the 44th President of the United States.

Dawood al-Shirian, prominent Saudi columnist, on the election of Barack Obama, wrote:  “Today, reality in America has superseded fantasy...Americans have struck a deadly blow to racism around the world.”

In the presidential campaign, there were jokes about Barack Obama and the messianic projections placed on him.  At the traditional “Alfred E. Smith” New York “roast” that he shared with John McCain not long before the election, he himself joked that he was born in Hawaii, not in Bethlehem.  But the reality is that for elders who could not vote one generation ago, the election of the 44th president is the fulfillment of a vision of a people brought to this land in slavery.  

Certainly in symbol – and hopefully in substance – this can be the dawn of a new day as a nation of many cultures and colors, learning and re-learning the lessons of inter-dependence and common purpose for all people.  Thanks be to God.