Now What?

As I looked at the readings this week, I couldn’t help but look at them through the lens of what’s going on in our country.  As I read and re-read the Gospel I couldn’t help but see the calling of Peter, Andrew James and John as Jesus filling out his cabinet at the beginning of his ministry—I even thought some might look at the fisherman and proclaim that they were not qualified to serve in the capacity that Jesus asked them to.  I also saw Jesus setting forth his vision- a much shorter inaugural address—that he and his administration was going to do the work of “fishing for people.” 

Then of course we have St. Paul and his letter to the Corinthians—speaking to a divided church—some have aligned with Apollos and others with Cephas-some with Paul and still others with Christ.  I couldn’t help but see our own divided country. We have a president who did not win the popular vote.   Republican hunkering down in their camps Democrats in their camps-no one wants to cross the aisle—or even dip their toe in the water.  Some are ready to repeal Obamacare and other say not so fast. We have folks that say Black Lives Matter and other’s Blue Lives Matter and still other’s that all lives matter.  We are deeply divided and sick.  As we move into this new administration—I wonder  about the Church’s vocation in bridging divides and helping to bind up the wounds of our nation.

St. Paul’s vision for his church in Corinth is that it be a church without division—that it be united in the same mind and of the same purpose.  His first letter will address that  thesis again and again— I think St. Paul knew what what  Abraham Lincoln would proclaim many, many years   that “a house divided cannot stand.”

Can our country be without division —I don’t know—but I do know that with God anything is possible. 

I think the work of bridging divides and binding up wounds begins within these four walls—in worship, at meetings and  in our interactions with one another.    

I think it begins with a belief that all our welcome in God’s house. 

Last week there was a story on NPR about Coventry Cathedral in England and their welcome sign is posted on the door for all to see.    It had started on the bulletin, but then moved to the door as the cathedral embraced this a part of their vocation.

Let me read it to you.

We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, straight, gay, confused, well-heeled or down-at-heel. We especially welcome wailing babies and excited toddlers. 

We welcome you whether you can sing like Pavarotti or just growl quietly to yourself. You're welcome here if you're just browsing, just woken up or just got out of prison. We don't care if you're more Christian than the Archbishop of Canterbury or haven't been to church since Christmas 10 years ago. We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet and to teenagers who are growing up too fast.

We welcome keep-fit moms, football dads, starving artists, tree huggers, latte sippers, vegetarians, junk food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you're having problems, are down in the dumps or don't like organized religion. We're not that keen on it either. We offer welcome to those who think the Earth is flat, work too hard, don't work, can't spell, or are here because Granny is visiting and wanted to come to the cathedral. We welcome those who are inked, pierced, both or neither.

We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throats as kids or got lost on the Ring Road and wound up here by mistake. We welcome pilgrims, tourists, seekers, doubters and you. 1

I have to say that this encompasses not only what I hope is the vocation of the larger church, but especially the vocation of our little church. 

And I believe bridging divides begins with the radical welcome of the other who is radically different and I also—I think the Episcopal Church stands uniquely ready to bridge divides  first because we strive to be churches of radical welcome,  but also of the ethos of our church has been that we value folks ability to reason to have their own opinion and we don’t ask you to check your brain and beliefs at that door-you can bring your understanding of the resurrection or the virgin birth or the creation story in through our red doors.

And we don’t ask you to sign off on some doctrinal or orthodox understanding of belief for that is not what binds us together, but rather what binds us together as Episcopalians  is our common worship—  that we all can come forward and kneel down together and eat from the same table no matter our beliefs  no matter our affiliations, left right moderate no matter or our stance on the affordable care act or the death penalty and  we worship God together—we break bread together and we can welcome those who might be radically different to the table with us.  

Of course when we get up off our knees and go back through those doors how can continue to be those people of welcome—I think there are a few  practices that can move us forward. 

First –Listen more than speak.  Try to imagine what it’s like to what it’s like to walk a mile in somebody else’s shoes—I’ve have found this immensely helpful in beginning to understand why folks make certain decisions or decide to act in certain ways. I think we also need to be willing to change—be willing to admit that you may not have it all correct.  Then we have to love like Jesus—recognize that every human being is made in and bears the image of God—that every person has worth.  Finally, dear church get down on your knees and pray like crazy. 

We have a lot of hard work to do as a nation and as a church—it begins here—on our knees in common worship and the things we say we believe in here-have to go with us out through those doors because when they do—division are bridged and wounds are bound up—the kingdom of God is brought near.  Go forth dear church today—Jesus is calling you by name-- to help bring about the healing of the nations and the healing of our nation.  

Amen

1 http://www.npr.org/2017/01/15/509937021/english-cathedral-welcomes-visitors-with-unexpected-message