The Rev. Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund, pastor of First Congregational Church in Indianapolis, Indiana, serves communion to Chautauquans Friday in the Hall of Philosophy.
Column by Mary Lee Talbot
“I have lost count of the number of times I have prayed for family, friends and parishioners for healing, for God to take away the pain of depression, bipolar disease, to bring peace of mind, to provide help to get through the day and make tomorrow better,” the Rev. Sarah Griffith Lund said.
Lund was the homilist for the 9:15 a.m. Friday morning ecumenical communion service in the Hall of Philosophy. The title of her homily was “Blessed are the Crazy: A Love Story.” The scripture reading was Matthew 14:13–15.
What does it mean when our sickness is in the brain, Lund asked. “The church tells people to pray more, that they need Jesus in their life, if only they believed harder, read their Bible every day and confessed their sins, they would be healed.”
She continued, “What does the Bible say? Very little, and the church has said people with mental illness are demon possessed, unclean or being punished by God.”
Lund’s father had bipolar disorder and his illness terrified her. No one brought casseroles when he was ill. She felt unloved and she ate her feelings, causing stomach aches and in primary school, she wet her bed. She thought it was her fault that her father could not show her affection because no one talked about mental illness. His illness led to divorce, being unhoused and living alone.
There are several miracles in Matthew’s gospel before Matthew 14:13–15.
“I understand the Bible as saying that Jesus had a healing ethic and his compassion and healing were free. Every person has a God-given right to healing. Mental healing is health. Jesus showed us what it looks like to love our neighbors and to make healing affordable and accessible. The compassion in Jesus’ heart was activated by the suffering of the sick. He did not stigmatize them or turn them away if they had no insurance,” Lund said.
Jesus does not cure the disease but cures the stigma and the pain, which leads to acceptance of who we are, Lund told the congregation. “My father was not cursed, he was blessed. He took a train from California to Missouri to be at my wedding and he told me he loved me. I thank God for that moment of compassion and healing. After 30 years of wondering, I had my answer: my father loved me,” Lund said.
Lund said mental illness is a common human condition. God, she said, blesses us with healing in a reconciled heart, with compassion that heals the stigma. Now is the time to break the silence about mental illness and show compassion.
“Let it be known that compassion and healing are God-given rights. We are not broken, cursed or alone because the love of Jesus has made us worthy, blessed and loved. God loves you, all of you. Thanks be to God. Amen,” Lund said.
The Rt. Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, senior pastor of Chautauqua, led worship. The Rev. Rachel Stuart, an associate in the Department of Religion, presided at the communion table. The Rev. Jacqueline Brett, Unitarian Universalist chaplain, read the scripture. Jane Barnard, a student at Kenyon College studying German, led the prayers of the people. The Rev. Chris Hetton, Christian Church — Disciples of Christ, the Rev. Rebecca DePoe, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Rev. Evangeline Castillo, United Methodist, the Rev. Kathryn Pocalyko, ELCA, and the Rev. Sarah Griffith Lund, served communion with volunteers from the congregation. Music included a piano work, “Hijaz Prelude,” by Michael Harrison, played by Sonya Subbayya Sutton, interim director of Sacred Music, as well as a hymn variation on “When Morning Gilds the Skies” by Joseph Barnby, arranged by Victoria Jicha, and “Vivace” from Telemann’s Sonata in F Major, both performed by flutist Barbara Hois and pianist Joseph Musser. The Motet Choir sang René Clausen’s “Set Me as a Seal” and led the congregation in singing music from around the world. Support for this week’s chaplaincy and preaching was provided by the Robert D. Campbell Memorial Chaplaincy and the Jackson-Carnahan Memorial Chaplaincy.
