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CHILDREN'S EDUCATION |
SERMONS The
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost By David Christian Several years ago I met a man named William, from South Carolina. His father had created a successful business there and his family was quite wealthy. William had been baptized as an infant, but had not grown up in the Church. It was not that his family had anything against going to church, but they were so busy that there were always other things to do on Sunday. William was close to his mother and father. After he graduated from high school he was sent off to college, with the understanding that he would return to take over the family business. While William was in college a friend invited him to an event sponsored by one of the campus Christian organizations. Gradually William became involved with the group and, through the group, with work being done with the poor in Appalachia. He became so committed to what he was doing that he decided to remain in Appalachia and continue his work there after finishing college. William told me that telling his parents that he would not be returning home and to the family business was one of the most difficult things he has ever done. His parents were incredulous and angry that he was turning his back on them and all that they had spent their lives accomplishing. The feelings were so passionate that William left the house and he and his parents did not speak for several years. Jesus said, "Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! ... They will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." How are we to understand these troubling words spoken by the "prince of peace"? Isn't the church supposed to preach peace? Aren't Christians supposed to be peacemakers? How do we reconcile all the talk we hear of reconciliation with what Jesus is saying here? Perhaps the best place to start is to go back to the basic message that Jesus preached. Mark tells us that Jesus preached that "the kingdom of God is at hand." This is the foundation for all that Jesus said and did. The kingdom of God. A kingdom of peace and love for all of God's creation. But a kingdom of peace built on the foundation of the righteousness and justice of God. Here is the difference between peace as it is understood in this world and the peace that Jesus preached and that he promised to his followers. For this world peace is understood as the absence of conflict. The world is at peace when there are no wars or international conflicts. Our nation and cities are at peace when there are no disturbances in the streets. We are at peace with one another when we don't argue or fight. But the peace of the kingdom of God is built on justice--on God's justice--and on reconciliation. On the reconciliation of all people one with another, and with God. Where there is oppression, there is no peace. Where power is used by one group of people to control another group of people, there is no peace. Where some live in affluence while others starve, there is no peace. These two views, these two kingdoms, the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God, are obviously quite different. They will necessarily come into conflict with each other. To the extent that the Church holds up its vision of the kingdom of God, it will come into conflict with the powers of this world. And to the extent that we hold up this vision in our own lives and ministries, we will come into conflict with those who do not share that vision. Does this mean that as Christians we must all give up our jobs and move to Appalachia; that one cannot be a successful businessman or professional woman and still be a Christian? Obviously, no. But it does mean that wherever we are, whatever our work, our primary vocation, as followers of Christ, is to work for God's kingdom, God's justice, God's peace. When this brings conflict, we have the consolation of our Lord's example. Beyond the conflict lies true peace, beyond the Cross lies the Resurrection. William continues the work to which he was called in Appalachia. He and his parents are speaking again; he spends holidays with them and their relationship is cordial. But they are still not fully reconciled. His parents still cannot understand how William could repudiate all that they had done, their whole lives' work, in the way that he did. He and his parents continue to live in two different kingdoms, to hold two different visions. And William's prayer continues to be that one day they too will catch a glimpse of the glory of God and the true peace and reconciliation that only he can provide. David Christian The
Chapel of the Cross Proper
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