Feast Day of Harriet Tubman

Then Jesus went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:19b-35

Harriet Tubman was born a slave in Maryland in 1813. She escaped to Canada in 1844 and was moved to help others to freedom. She returned to Maryland 19 times and led more than 300 slaves to freedom. She was a conductor on what we call the underground railroad. My parent's home was a stop on that underground railroad, where Harriet worked in Cape May, New Jersey. She believed God's words of wanting to set captives free and was determined to help. I can't help but imagine what those walls had heard and seen. Frightened and hopeful folks on the verge of freedom.

Jesus called all those who do the will of God brothers and sisters. Harriet Tubman believed that God's will was to set folks free and she risked her life, over and over, for the freedom of others. We are invited today to be brothers and sisters of Christ by living out the will of God today. Bringing captives to freedom, healing the sick, feeding the needy and making all people welcome - that is the unchanging will of God.

Today I ask God to help me live out the will of God by living for others. May we all be part of God's family by giving our lives from the healing of our world.



Collect
O God, whose Spirit guides us into all truth and makes us free: Strengthen and sustain us as you did your daughter Harriet. Give us vision and courage to stand against oppression and injustice and all that works against the glorious liberty to which you call all your children; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.