Karen Hollis | February 16, 2025
Epiphany 6/Thecla 6
Sixth Stage of Spiritual Transformation:
The stages of spiritual transformation begin with a bright light of insight coming straight at us. We receive that insight and search for a path within us from where we are to the possibility that light represents. When the path becomes clear, we see the open door before us, and with courage, walk through. On the other side of the door, we find ourselves on a pilgrimage that tests our readiness to embrace this new way of seeing. Coming through that test, we are presented with a choice point . . . to either return to the old life . . . or die to the old life and become something new.
Here in the 6th stage, we reach the climax of the transformation. It is high noon, the sun is right overhead, so the shadows are short. This stage unfolds through our choices to protect and support our new self, the self we freed from our prior circumstances. The drama can feel heightened as we feel out new waters by saying or doing things we’ve never done before, but they feel needed, they feel right. We are prioritizing the newfound treasure that has been born in us.
I’m sure everyone has a little bit different experience, still I’m going to suggest that this treasure is centered in the area of the heart, which in our Christian tradition is called the nous – I’ve used this word before – it’s a Greek word, which can be translated as the Spiritual eye of the heart. We did a little meditation during Advent, where we used our imaginations to descend into the space of the heart and greeted our souls. So, we’re talking about that space again, the sacred space within us where we meet our souls. Jesus talks about this space in a way that adds in an element of personal authority.
In the 17th chapter of Luke, Jesus is asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God is coming. Jesus answers: the kingdom of God is within you. Now “kingdom” is translated from the Greek word basileia – sounds a lot like basilica – it means both kingdom, a space with a ruler, and it also means possessing a royal power to rule.
We can think about this heart space as this basileia or basilica . . . a grand holy space that invokes reverence. This heart space is our own sacred selves. What is housed there in the basilica is our own spiritual authority, our own royal power to be sovereign over our own selves.
So the gift we have received and are now protecting in the 6th stage is this heart space that invokes reverence and it is our spiritual authority or royal power who lives there.
Using other words from our tradition, we could say that in this stage we remember our belovedness of God and we defend the right for that part of us to be seen and to influence our choices.
When we return to Spiritual Transformation in 2 weeks with stage 7, we will return to the place where the call first came as a new creation.
Scripture Readings
Thecla 33, 34:1-3, 35:1, 37:1-4 And Thecla was taken out of Tryphaena’s hands and stripped, and received a girdle and was thrown into the stadium. And lions and bears were thrown in front of her. And a ferocious lioness charged her and then lay down at her feet. And a bear ran up to her, but the lioness charged and met it, and tore the bear apart. And again, a lion that had been trained against humans, which belonged to Alexander [president of the provincial council of Syria] ran up to her, and the lioness engaged the lion, and the two were killed together. And the women mourned even more since the lioness that helped her was dead.
And they threw in many wild animals as she stood and stretched out her hands and prayed. But as she finished the prayer, she turned and saw a great pit full of water and said, “Now it is time for me to wash.” And she threw herself in, saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ I baptize myself on the last day!”
And the women . . . cried aloud, and some threw petals, while others nard, and others cinnamon, and yet others cardamom, so there was an abundance of perfumes.
“And the governor called out to Thecla from the midst of the wild animals and said to her, ‘Who are you? And what is it about you that not even one of the wild animals touched you?”
“I am the slave of the living God. And as to what it is about me, I have trusted in the child of God, and through whom not even one of the wild animals touched me… for this one alone is the limit of salvation and the foundation of life through the ages…a refuge for those in a storm; freedom for the oppressed; for the despairing, a shelter.”
Matthew 3:13-17 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’
Reflection:
Thanks to Alan for doing some extra work to write the intros to the scripture passages.
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be reflections of your word to us today, in Christ’s name we pray. Amen
As soon as Thecla enters Antioch, she is faced with an opportunity to protect her new self. Another powerful man, Alexander, the president of the provincial council of Syria sees her and embraces her there in the street. The text says she would not endure it. “Don’t violate the stranger,” she cries. She tears his cloak and takes the crown off his head. She is filled with rage. The anger that wells up is communicating to her that what’s happening is not ok. The body knows. This is her holy truth speaking. Her truth tells her to defend herself, for as a human, she is worthy of being treated with dignity. Her rage is an emotion, not an action – her action is separate.1
As a person who feels deeply, I think it’s important to take some time out to feel – when we are physically safe, we can make space to acknowledge and witness the anger, fear, whatever emotions are speaking to us. This isn’t a great time for action – because we don’t want to act from the place of anger – that probably won’t be helpful. Though when our holy witnessing is complete, we can connect back into love, root into that space where we remember we are beloved of God and move forward from there.2
Thecla continues to advocate for herself by requesting that she have a safe place to stay the night before fighting the wild animals. While the first time she underwent this kind of trial, she was utterly alone, this time she is supported by women. She is put into the care of Queen Tryphaena for the night. There are also women who are witnessing how this part of her journey unfolds. They witness her trial and sentencing, crying out “unholy judgement!” As Thecla is paraded through the streets, the women and children cry out, “God, a godless judgement has been passed in this city!”
In the words of theologian Meggan Watterson, when Thecla is then in the arena, the women come to a place where it isn’t enough for them to cry out against injustice. They see Thecla standing up for her truth – they see themselves in her and actively help to free her. They have no power, so they use what they have and throw into the arena petals, nard, cinnamon, cardamom – the collective aroma holds the animals as if by sleep, and they do not touch Thecla.
There in the arena, Thecla sees a great pit full of water. She is no longer asking permission to receive baptism. Connecting to the authority she has found within, her own royal power, she baptizes herself in the name of Jesus Christ. Just like at Jesus’ baptism, a light like a lightening flash comes down to the water.
I am in awe of her, the way she owns her royal power. As progressive as I am, I hold myself back a bit, wondering, can she do that? I haven’t quite figured out what that’s about for me. To Paul and anyone who wonders if she has the authority, she says: “For the one who worked together with you for the good news also worked with me in my baptism.” In the end, it is God calling us, inviting us into relationship and collaboration. Thecla knows God is calling her to baptism and ministry.
Most of the time, baptism is celebrated in the church as a profoundly communal act. Here in the United Church, baptism is how we receive new members. It is how we welcome people in. Like any ritual, baptism is also an act in which our spirits and bodies align in affirmation – in this case, an affirmation that we are beloved of God. Within the celebration of the one coming for baptism, we remember that all of us are God’s beloved. So, as she stands there in her God-given authority, proclaiming the moment of her baptism, who is Thecla’s community? I think it’s the women. They witness her. They see themselves in her. If she can stand in her royal power and proclaim that she is beloved of God, they can too. If she can reclaim her life, so can they (and so can we).
I watched a show called Lessons in Chemistry, where a fictional female chemist, named Elizabeth Zott, creates a cooking show for housewives in the 1950’s. There is a scene where she answers questions from the studio audience. Seeing how Elizabeth has created an unconventional life for that day, a woman raises her hand and wonders aloud about herself maybe becoming a doctor, even though it is obviously impossible. Elizabeth asks – if you could be a doctor, what kind of doctor would you be? “A cardiologist” – she says a little surprised by her own clarity and enthusiasm for the idea. Gathered in community, all the women see that the impossible is indeed possible.
After even more wild animals fail to kill her, “the governor [calls] out to Thecla from the midst of the wild animals . . . ‘Who are you? And what is it about you that not even one of the wild animals touched you?” She replies with an I AM statement. I AM takes us all the way back to the book of Exodus where God speaks to Moses from a burning bush: “I AM who I AM” – it’s the closest thing God has to a name . . . so we call I AM the divine name. In the gospel of John, Jesus makes 7 I AM statements (I AM the true vine, I AM the bread of life) which affirm his divinity and the ways in which he serves his fellow humans.
Thecla replies to the governor: “I AM the slave of the living God.” This language is a bit jarring to our 21st century ears . . . let’s remember that in those days, as a woman, Thecla has no rights. In the social hierarchy, she is ranked just above slave and is subordinate to her father or husband. To say she is the slave of the living God is for her to step outside the human system of power and
(walk down to font)
proclaim that she has the kingdom of God within her, she has God given divinity – as we all do – and belongs to God and no one else, but herself.
(uncover font)
Whenever we lift up baptism in worship, I like to invite people to the font to remember their baptism. We’re going to bless the water in the font and then I’ll walk us through the offerings in open space today.
We gather around the waters of baptism to remember who we are and whose we are, to receive the blessing that only this water can gift to us. The waters of baptism are a reminder of our entanglement with every living thing, they are an invitation to deep and lasting solidarity, they call us to a different kind of power and authority. Let us pray . . .
God of Life and God of Love, there is water everywhere. It is older than life itself – since the formation of the earth, it has been ready with its blessing. So let us wade. soak. wash. splash. and bless. With this water, let us remember how deeply we are held in the palm of God’s love. Amen.
1 Meggan Watterson, HMM gathering, April 7, 2024
2 Meggan Watterson, HMM gathering, April 7, 2024
During open space, you are invited to come and either receive a blessing or bless yourself. If you would like me to bless you, please cross your arms, otherwise I will wait for you to touch the water and bless yourself. (Sign of cross, on head, forehead, heart) If you would like me to bless you, cross your arms and I will place a hand with water on your head and tell you that you are a beloved child of God.
You received a heart with the words I AM – a little nod to Valentine’s day – I invite you to think about who you are, not what you do, but who you are, how you are known to God, your sacred self. If you can put that into a word or phrase, write it down. You’re welcome to tape it to the board.
You can light candles, place rocks in water, write prayers to be read during the prayers of the people – if you are on the livestream, you can email prayers to minister@comoxunitedchurch.com during the 8 min.
There are also questions for reflection. What do you remember or know about your baptism? What does the person you’re becoming need from you. Today we’re talking about supporting and protecting who we are becoming – so what does that self need from you?
You can also sit and listen to the music. We’ll be here for 8 min – this time is yours.
Open Space
Questions for reflection
Candles and Rocks
Write Prayers
Remembrance of Baptism
Write an “I AM” statement
Questions for Reflection:
What do you know or remember about your baptissm?
What does the person you’re becoming need from you today?