Myrrh Bearers
“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared.”—Luke 24:1.
I remember preparing to present a workshop at the International Community of Hope conference one summer in Texas. The Community of Hope began training non-ordained hospital chaplains at St. Luke’s Hospital in Houston. The training program is now used worldwide by people interested in visiting the sick and homebound.
I have been involved in the Community of Hope in our diocese for more than twenty-five years. I continue to see it as outstanding preparation and study for anyone called to a ministry involving pastoral care in any form. (Some may believe this may be for all ministries!) One of the hallmarks of the training is that it is steeped in Benedictine spirituality.
He Qi Women Arriving at the Tomb
The image of the Community of Hope Chaplains that keeps coming to me is the “myrrh bearers,” the women who brought spices to the tomb of Jesus on that early Easter morning. They brought their most precious resources to honor the one who had cared for them. In my experience, this has been the story of many called to pastoral care ministry.
They know what it is like to be wounded and ministered to by other healers. They understand what it is like to be loved and cared for by others. Their only way of sharing, continuing, and keeping that love is to pass what they learned on to someone else.
What happens with the myrrh bearers’ visit is something totally unexpected. They go to honor their friend and teacher; instead, they are promised a new life, a resurrection in this life and the next.
I have never experienced a visit without receiving resurrection. Those we visit touch and heal us. We take our most precious possessions—ourselves, our time, and our presence—and make an offering. In return, we always meet the resurrected Christ in many forms.
During the pandemic, we visited via Facebook, Zoom, and individual phone calls. In addition, our Daughters of the King, vestry, and clergy called everyone in our parish twice.
We also offered Community of Hope training on Zoom at St. Mark’s for those interested in using pastoral care in their ministries. 33 graduates from all over our diocese are now using what they learned in 28 different ministries.
We still meet once a month on Zoom to continue our studies and support each other. This Saturday, we are also sponsoring a regional retreat for Community of Hope chaplains in the Midwest to expand our community. The Reverent Barkley Thompson, the rector of Saint Mark’s, will be the keynote speaker.
Joanna. Joannaseibert.com https://www.joannaseibert.com/