“Signs” by The Rev. Betsy Powell

The Rev. Dr. Betsy Powell, former pediatrician now priest, treats a child in the Dominican Republic

January 2009
– From Canterbury Tales, the parish newsletter of St. Augustine of Canterbury, Navarre

Last year while on our diocesan mission to the Dominican Republic, I found myself noticing – even more than here in the States – the numerous signs (road signs, commercial signs, billboards, etc) that everywhere punctuate the tropical landscape. Una Vida. Pare. Se Vende. Peligro. Entrada. Since I was seeking to improve my Spanish, all those signs served as little “tests” of my growing vocabulary en español. But also each sign was a very visible reminder that our team was indeed in a new country, a foreign land with different customs and lifestyles than the ones to which we were so accustomed.

Intersection in the Dominican Republic

The first portion of the Gospel according to John has been called by many the “Book of Signs.” Signs/miracles such as Jesus changing water into wine, Jesus healing the royal official’s son, Jesus healing the crippled man, Jesus feeding the 5000, Jesus walking on water, Jesus healing the blind man, and finally Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. All of these “signs” are, for John, manifestations of God’s glory in the person of Jesus. They point us to the radical new kingdom that Jesus ushers in. And they remind us that this new world of love, grace, and healing into which God invites us is filled with the active presence of Jesus – often in very unlikely places. A wedding. The home of a court official. A Sabbath healing. A grassy hillside. An out-of-the-way burial cave. As I think about these stories in John’s Gospel, these signs of God’s presence with God’s people, I also ask myself a question, especially with the memory of the signs of Dominica in my mind: how often do my prior expectations and my distractions keep me from truly noticing the signs of God’s presence, God’s glory right here in front of me – often in the most unlikely and unexpected places? How often do I take the time to notice those countless manifestations of God’s new kingdom, signs that speak the Gospel language of love and peace?

Child in the Dominican Republic waits his turn to see Mother Betsy

One of those moments for me was in the little Dominican barrio (that is, village) of Jalonga. Our mission team of 22 joined some 20 or so villagers in Iglesia Episcopal de San Mateo (Episcopal Church of St. Matthew) on our first Sunday – singing (or trying to sing!) some Spanish hymns, “passing the peace” in both languages, hearing a sermon by Obispo (Bishop) Parera via a translator, watching as a simple slice of white grocery store bread was elevated and torn in two…Cristo nuestra Pascua, se ha sacrificado por nosotros…….Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us…… There came a moment when I looked up and saw brilliant sunlight streaming in through the wide open doors and windows, pouring over all of us gathered there. Christ’s presence with us and in us – right there in that dusty and dirty but gracious and loving Dominican barrio – a divine presence tangible enough almost to touch. A “sign” understandable in any language.

During this season of Epiphany that celebrates in scripture and song the showing forth of Christ’s glory to all nations, why not make it a regular habit to look for that Presence in every moment, every experience, no matter how unlikely? Signs indeed of the glorious Kingdom of God which, whether we are aware of it or not, surrounds us even now.

Consider also attending the Season of Epiphany Adult Christian Education forums between services. We will focus our conversations on “God’s Mission – Our Mission.” There will even be a slide show of our Dominican sisters and brothers in Jalonga and the mission work that we in our Diocese are sharing with them! Please join us as we consider how to live into our Christian mission and ministry – both locally and globally.

Que Dios les bendiga, mi hermanas y hermanos en Cristo,

God bless you, my sisters and brothers in Christ,

Mother Betsy+