Bishop Shibusawa’s Sermon at Holy Cross Aug. 11, 2013 Luke 12:32-40 “Do not be afraid, little flock” In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Today, I believe it is providential for me to preach at Holy Cross I came to Vancouver to attend the Memorial Service of The Rev. Dr. Cyril Hamilton Powles, who used to serve in Chubu Diocese in Japan. The Rev. Powles was born in Karuizawa, Japan as son of The Rev. P.S.C. Powles who became a suffragan Bishop of Chubu Diocese after WWII, and Cyril spent his boyhood in Takada, Niigata prefecture where his father was working. He moved to Canada to attend University and became an ordained priest. He came back to Japan and worked in Chubu Diocese and taught at Anglican Theological College in Tokyo, Rikkyo University, etc. till 1970. He and his father were the 2 most influential priests in our Diocese. They guided not only our Diocese but also the Anglican Church of Japan when they were searching for the meaning of church or the direction of church mission in the post-war modern era. When there was some problem between our National Church or Chubu Diocese and the Anglican Church of Canada, The Rev. Powles was always there to solve it. Now you can see why I wanted to come here to pay respect to The Rev. Dr. Cyril Powles. I heard that Holy Cross celebrates it’s 110th Anniversary this year. When I was asked to preach today by Fr. Im, I thought it would be an honor, thinking this kind of chance would only come once. I must admit that I didn’t know much about the history of the Japanese-Canadian churches in Canada. I only know the names of churches and priests from the Anglican pocket diary. That’s about it. I remember I’ve read a book written by The Rev. G.G. Nakayama a long time ago, but my memory is fading. But, a very strange thing happened last month. It was my turn to preach for the July Requiem Service in our Diocese. Wondering what to preach, I found The Rev. F.W.C. Kenney’s name in the July Deceased List. So, I had decided to preach about him and started to research with some old resources in the Diocese. What I’ve found was that after he finished his mission in Japan, he returned to Canada and he did remarkable work at a Japanese-Canadian church in Vancouver, and that he was loved by many people in Vancouver. We don’t usually follow the path of the missionaries when they return to their home countries. But when I found out that The Rev. Kennedy served Japanese people even after he returned to his home country, Canada, I appreciated his work more than ever. And less than a month later, I’m in Vancouver, where The Rev. Kennedy was working and is now resting in peace, with a memorial in the garden outside. I had never thought that I would be preaching at Holy Cross in Vancouver. I must tell you another strange twist. The Rev. Kennedy actually passed away in June, therefore, his name should have been in the June list, not in the July list. But our Diocese listed his name in the July list by mistake. If his name was correctly recorded, I wouldn’t have researched about him for my homily and might not have the same loving feeling towards Holy Cross I have today. One mistake by the Diocese led me here. You might say it’s only a coincidence. But I can’t help thinking that this was all Divine Plan. We’ve corrected the mistake of course. And we also strongly recognized the fact that Chubu Diocese, the Anglican Church of Canada and Japanese-Canadian churches in Canada are all connected by an invisible thread. When I was preparing my sermon, I read a book called “Anglican Mission to the Japanese in Canada” written by The Rev. Canon Tim Nakayama. I’m not sure if I could fully understand the history or not because it was written in English and I rather rushed to read through it, but the book taught me some important history about Japanese-Canadian Anglicans in Canada. Holy Cross celebrates its 110th Anniversary this year. Congratulations. It’s a wonderful event and we should thank God, who built and nourished this church. We should also thank the leadership of all the clergy and leaders who carried out God’s mission. I’m proud of those who served in both Vancouver and Chubu Diocese. When you reflect on the history of Holy Cross you can understand it was not easy. Especially the hardship during and after the War. I have no way of knowing how hard it was. It’s amazing that despite the hardship, people have been supporting the church by their faith. Celebrating the 110th Anniversary, it’s important to thank God and the many clergy, but it’s more important to say, “Thank you” to each one of you. Without each one of you and your faith, churches don’t exist. Even if a church has a nice building or a good priest, without a flock of faithful people, without each one of you and your faith, a church cannot exist. I’ve learned that 1,500 Japanese-Canadian Anglicans were scattered due to the War but that they kept their faith wherever they were. It was recorded that 54 people were baptized and 36 were confirmed in Tashme Camp in 1943. It’s amazing. In Japan, the Anglican Church of Japan was trying to survive under the severe conditions during the War, because Christianity was considered a British/American religion. Unfortunately not many people were baptized during the War, like at Tashme. On the contrary, many people left the church, so I heard. I have no right to criticize that situation. But I can’t help thinking “What is Faith?”. St. Paul says in Philippians 1:29, “For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well”. It’s not easy to accept suffering as the Grace of God. You might say it was possible because it was St. Paul. But I would say that Japanese-Canadian Christians who suffered under severe conditions actually accepted their sufferings as the Grace of God by standing firmly on their faith. That’s why this Holy Cross is still existing today. I deeply respect your faith, the light you have been burning, even in the storm of prejudice and racism due to the War. By the way, both The Rev. W.H. Gale and Miss Hawkins who worked in Tashme were the Canadian Missionaries served in Chubu Diocese. The Rev. Gale succeeded The Rev. Kennedy’s mission around Matsumoto City. Miss Hawkins returned to Nagoya City after the War, and worked for a long time as a school master of Nagoya Ryujo Junior College, at which I’m working as an executive director now. Jesus says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” The flock of believers was originally small. Considering the size of Jewish society or the giant Roman Empire, it was such a tiny group, like a speck of dust. The Church was always facing the threat that they might be killed if they confessed their faith in Jesus publicly. But their faith in Christ was not diminished by the strong wind. Why? Because Jesus Christ was with them. He was with each believer in that tiny group. What is the Kingdom of God? St. Luke says in Luke 17:20-21, “The Kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is! For in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.” The kingdom of God is among us. The kingdom of God is among the people who believe in Jesus Christ. Where Jesus Christ is, that’s where the kingdom of God is. Even in a tiny group in a Camp, Jesus Christ gave them the power to live. And amazingly, 54 people were guided to the faith life. In spite of the sever living situation, many people had come to believe in Jesus Christ. This is truly the evidence that the kingdom of God was there and Jesus Christ was among them. Jesus Christ is among us even now. The kingdom of God is among us. Jesus Christ promises that it’s our Father’s pleasure to give us, a little flock, the kingdom of God. We wish we were always one of that little flock. When Jesus says, “Little flock”, he doesn’t mean only the number of people. He means those who are oppressed, weakened, neglected, voiceless. These are the “Little flock” and Jesus says He is among them. That’s how I understand “Little flock” and I would like to be in the flock. Even though your church is getting bigger, you should not forget the spirit of “Little flock”. Last year, our Chubu Diocese celebrated the 100th Anniversary. We were very fortunate to have your Primate, The Rt. Rev. Fred Hiltz to join us for our celebration. Since then I’ve been reading “Anglican Journal”. A few months ago, I read an article about Japanese-Canadian churches without knowing that I was coming to Vancouver in near future. It was a hidden history for long time in the Anglican Church of Canada, but the truth has been revealed and recognized by the National Church. I was so happy to know that Japanese-Canadian churches retrieved their honours. This was another divine plan for me. Holy Cross is the “Little flock” in Canada. This is definitely the church which is given the kingdom of God by God the Father. What was hidden in the dark has come out in the light in front of God. It took a long time. But this is the evidence that the kingdom of God is right here, isn’t it? It is my hope that Holy Cross Anglican Church will continue to do God’s mission of spreading the gospel, without any fear, because this church was given the kingdom of God. May this church glorify God in this land. I would appreciate it if you can pray for Chubu Diocese, too.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 00:05:42 +0000
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