Invitation to an Instructed Eucharist

Why do Episcopalians

do the things they do?

What do all their

Liturgical practices mean?

COME FIND OUT!

All are invited to an Instructed Eucharist Mass

this Sunday, October 21st, at 9:00 a.m. 

with the Rev. Karen King.

Have questions?  Want to know more?

This is your perfect opportunity.

Sermon: What Do I Lack?

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.  Please be seated.

A former dean at Duke University wrote: Today's gospel reminds us that there are good, understandable, reasonable reasons for not following Jesus.  Jesus is too often presented by us, from the best of motives, as the solution to all our problems, the way to fix everything that's wrong in our lives.  But this story reminds us that Jesus is sometimes the beginning of problems we would never have had if we had not been met by Jesus!

So I want you to think back to the time when you were a child.  What was your most valued possession?  (Pause)  What made it so valuable to you?  (Pause) Do you still have it in your possession?  Has its value changed? (Pause)

Think about today.  What is your most valued possession now?  (Pause)  What makes it valuable to you?  Are you capable of selling it?

Now keeping in mind those things, think about what exactly Christ said to the man.  "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." 

What was it that the man lacked?

Think about what Christ said to his disciples in response to the question, "Then who can be saved?":  "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” 

We don't believe that we can get into heaven by "doing".  We believe that the only way we can get into heaven is by the grace of God.  Which, of course, doesn't mean that we shouldn't be doing all that a follower of Christ would do.  That phrase, "What would Jesus do?" should actually govern our actions, so that people know we are Christians by our actions, as well as our words.

One night, in a college dormitory Bible study, a priest presented this same story of Jesus and the rich man.  He then asked the gathered students, "What do you make of this story?"

"Had Jesus ever met this man before?" asked one of the students.

"Why do you ask?" the priest asked.

"Because Jesus seems to have lots of faith in him.  He demands something risky, something radical of him.  I wonder if Jesus knew this man had a gift for risky, radical response.  In my experience, a professor only demands the best from students that the professor thinks are the smartest, best students.  I wonder what there was about this man that made Jesus have so much faith he could really be a disciple."

Wow.  The priest hadn't thought about that.

Another student said thoughtfully, "I wish Jesus would ask something like this of me.  My parents totally control my life just because they are paying all my bills.  And I complain about them calling the shots, but I am so tied to all this stuff I don't think I could ever break free.  But maybe Jesus thinks otherwise."

Well, the priest was astounded. What he had been thinking about as severe, demanding BAD news, these students heard as gracious, GOOD news.

What was it that the man lacked?  He already followed the commandments.  He already believed in Christ, because he asked Jesus, what must I do to have eternal life.  What did he lack?

There's a story told that Clarence Jordan, that great Southern, social prophet, visited an integrated church in the Deep South.  Jordan was surprised to find a relatively large church so thoroughly integrated, not only black and white but also rich and poor; and this was in the early '60s.  Jordan asked the old country preacher, "How did you get the church this way?"

"What way?" the preacher asked.  Jordan went on to explain his surprise at finding a church so integrated, and in the South, too.

The preacher said, "Well, when our preacher left our small church, I went to the deacons and said, 'I'll be the preacher.'  The first Sunday as preacher, I opened the book and read, 'As many of you as has been baptized into Jesus has put on Jesus and there is no longer any Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, males or females, because you all is one in Jesus.'

Then I closed the book and I said, 'If you are one with Jesus, you are one with all kind of folks.  And if you ain't, well, you ain't.'"

Jordan asked what happened after that. "Well," the preacher said, "the deacons took me into the back room and they told me they didn't want to hear that kind of preaching no more."

Jordan asked what he did then. "I fired them deacons," the preacher roared.

"Then what happened?"

"Well," said the old hillbilly preacher, "I preached that church down to four.  Not long after that, it started growing.  And it grew.  And I found out that revival sometimes don't mean bringin' people in but gettin' people out that don't dare to love Jesus." (As told in Hauerwas and Willimon, Where Resident Aliens Live, Nashville: Abingdon, 1996, p. 103).

Jesus invites people to be his disciples:  to divest.  To break free! Let go of your stuff!  Follow me!  I believe you can do it!

What did the man lack? 

It wasn't poverty.  Christ doesn't ask us to live in poverty, and He certainly gives us more than enough to do with our money in order to benefit people. 

It wasn't a lack of ties – we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.  We're supposed to build ties with the family of God. 

Could it be that what the man lacked was belief in himself, in his own work, and his own hands, capable of doing the work of God?  Of profiting the poor, the marginalized, the least, the lost, the outsiders.  Could it be that Christ believed more in the man and what he was capable of in following Him as a disciple?  Our Psalm ends today with "Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands— O prosper the work of our hands!" 

Do you dare to love Jesus enough?  Amen.

Newsletter: October 2018

Holy Trinity Sanguinity

                    October 2018

Events in October at HT

            With convention occurring the first weekend in October, Kris Hanley will provide a Morning Prayer service on October 7, 2018 at 9:00 a.m.  Morning Prayer will also be celebrated the 14th and 28th. 

            The Rev. Karen King will be celebrating the Eucharist at the October 21, 2018, 9:00 service, which will include an instructed Eucharist.  Also attached here is a list of terms for you to look over, either to remind yourself of what everything is called, what its purpose is, or to learn about those things for the first time.  Interestingly enough, everything has a purpose or meaning behind what we do and why we do it.  Take the opportunity to glance over those terms and remember just how rich our liturgy is.

            Noonday Prayer is held Monday through Friday at Noon.  If you want a quick break in the day to remember our purpose here, stop in.  Takes about 10 minutes.

          Our Bible Study meets on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.  We are currently using a Great Studies course on "Lost Christianities:  Christian Scriptures and the Battles Over Authentication."  The next study will be on the Dead Sea Scrolls.  All are welcome!

            Last, but not least, our Vestry meeting will be on Sunday the 28th after the service.  If you have anything you want to bring up to the Vestry, please talk with one of the members.

Deacon's Office Hours

         Deacon Angel Bolling holds office hours at the church from 10:30 to Noon, or by appointment. 

2018 Outreach Events

            In addition to our normal outreach activities that include providing vouchers for food, gas and lodging for stranded travelers, scholarships for our graduating seniors and the Prayer Shawl Ministry, Holy Trinity held two outreach events.  The first, on Crockpot Cooking, was poorly attended, but gave people ideas of how to choose the right crockpot for them, and provided the opportunity to experiment with a variety of ingredients.  The second, on Estate Planning, led by Libby's Steve Dalby and Troy's Scott B. Johnson was fairly well attended by people from both Troy and Libby.  The seminar discussed wills, trusts, healthcare powers of attorney, and other documents your family will need should something happen to you. 

            At each annual meeting, we discuss the projects and goals for the year – both in outreach ministries and as methods of introducing Holy Trinity to the community.  Past events have included herbal medicine workshops and various kitchen skills.  Other ideas have included a rummage sale, afternoon tea and life skills classes.  It's October, so put your thinking caps on, and come to the annual meeting with ideas, a willingness to lead and/or support the ideas of others. 

Daily Liturgy Readings

            Many of us like to read the daily readings with the Liturgical Calendar, but finding them can be a chore.  At this link, you will find the daily readings for the week, each with a link that makes reading them easy.  Additionally, there's something to help you experience "Quiet Time" – a time to meditate, pray, or simply sit and listen for the voice of God.  Try to find an hour each week to do that for yourself.

Bishop Search – Request to Parishioners

            The Diocese has requested everyone's help in getting the word out about the Bishop Search.  There is now a video, Diocesan Profile and application form on the diocese website.  Send any or all of them to people who might be interested, or post it on your Facebook or other social media applications you may have.

Building and Grounds

            Our new roof, weather permitting, should be installed in the first part of October.  We're sticking with the shingle type roof, but hope to eliminate a couple of places where we've got drainage problems.

            We're currently looking for someone interested in doing concrete work and re-building our deck, so if you know someone, tell them to contact Jill Wilson to get the particulars and get a bid put together for consideration by the Vestry.

October Feast Days

This month's Feast/Holy Days include

• The 18th for St. Luke the Evangelist.  He is known as a patron saint of artists, physicians, bachelors, surgeons, students and butchers. 

• The 23rd for St. James of Jerusalem, also known as St. James the Greater.  He is known as the patron saint of Spain and, according to legend, his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. 

• The 28th for St. Jude and St. Simon.  St. Jude is known as the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes. Saint Jude's attribute is a club. He is also often shown in icons with a flame around his head. This represents his presence at Pentecost, when he received the Holy Spirit with the other apostles.  St. Simon is the patron saint of curriers; sawyers; and tanners. 

·         And the 31st is the Vigil for All Saints (as well as being All Hallow's Eve or Halloween). 

            The links here will lead you to readings for those specific saints should you choose to honor them, or just learn more about them.

Prayer Shawl Ministry Needs Help!

            As everyone knows, the Prayer Shawl Ministry is currently meeting the first and third Sundays from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.  While we are always happy to have new knitters, crocheters and all around organizers, part of what we really need are names of people who need the shawls!  Prayer shawls only do some good when they're wrapped around people.  We've got all sorts of sizes and colors, and include lap blankets for those not so fond of shawls.  Each stitch is made with prayer, and often they get passed from person to person as people need to be wrapped in prayer.

            So, contact Angel, Kris or Jill with names and ideas of how to best get a shawl or blanket to them, and we will do our best to make that happen! 

Quarterly Assignments

            The fourth quarter assignments are up and available on the website, found here.  These are, of course, subject to change within the last 10 minutes before a service.  We are a flexible congregation. 

Sermon: Setting Priorities

          You all know that I'm kind of a stickler about setting goals and finding ways to achieve them.  I do this in my own life, and I push for us to do it as a church at each annual meeting.  But maybe what I should be doing is asking that we set our priorities as a church. 

          The disciples were arguing on the road to Capernaum.  Christ had set His own priority as they passed quietly through Galilee, not engaging with anyone.  He didn't want anyone to know, because right now, His aim was to teach His disciples what they needed to know.  There were other times for healing, teaching crowds of people in parables, and still other times for private prayer and meditation.  This was the time He set aside for teaching the disciples.

          So He asked them to explain what they were arguing about.  Their silence spoke volumes.  They had been arguing over who was the greatest among them.  Every single one of them knew that this was not something Jesus would be impressed with, and they figured His disappointment with them would be quite clear.  So they remained silent.  Perhaps this was a situation of "It is better to remain silent at the risk of being thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt."  (Maurice Switzer, Mrs. Goose; Her Book) 

          But Christ instead, decided to teach them, explaining not only their goal – that of being first – but how to achieve it – by being last of all and servant of all.  Their priority must be in serving those He came to save.  Their responsibility was to welcome everyone, from the smallest child to the tax collector in their own midst.  By doing that, they welcomed Christ, and in welcoming Christ, they welcomed God. 

          Easy words to say, but very difficult words to follow.  How do you set priorities like that?  Our Psalm, Old Testament and New Testament lessons talk about words reflecting where we want our priorities to be, what we want them to reflect.  We hope for wisdom, hope that our actions will reflect wisdom – we pray in the Lord's Prayer, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done.  But how do we ensure that we don't listen to the "counsel of the wicked"?  How do we avoid the words of the ungodly?  How do we make our actions reflect the priorities *set by God*?

          Some of you may have seen the movie, "Witness."  In it, we learn something of the Amish people, and that they avoid modern technology. They have no TV sets in their homes, no telephones inside the home, and electricity is hooked into the barn but not the house. Such a lifestyle seems to us very harsh and rigorous, but an Amish bishop once explained why it is the Amish live this way. He suggested that most technology had in fact had a negative effect on people's lives. Television was a good example. It brought violence and poor ethical values into the home, so much so that many people would like to watch less TV but find they can't.

          Does this mean the Amish are against modern technology? No, explained the bishop. The Amish simply want to keep it in its proper place. The Amish aren't against telephones. In fact he'd had one installed down the lane from his house. A telephone was handy to have in an emergency or to call distant family and friends. But why bring it into the house. "Telephones intrude into the most precious moments of life." said the bishop. "You may be talking to your children or sharing something important with your wife; if the phone rings, you allow it to interrupt what you're saying. The family can be at prayer, and if the phone rings you will stop and answer it. You could be with your wife in bed, and you will allow the ringing telephone to interrupt what you are doing there!"

          Similarly electricity could be a good thing, if kept in its proper place. The Amish in his community had electricity in their barns to refrigerate their milk, but they kept it out of their homes. Why? Because they felt it disrupted the natural rhythms of life. With electricity people stay up late instead of going to bed. With electricity people listen to radios and watch TV that involve them with the outside world rather than their own community.

          What about tractors? If the Amish will use electricity in their barns, why not tractors in their fields? The Bishop explained that with a tractor one person can plow their field on their own. But in using a horse drawn plow the whole family needed to be involved. So rejecting the tractor was a way to create family solidarity.

          The Amish have perhaps given more thought to this issue than most of us have. While we may not agree with the Amish on everything we certainly could follow their lead in asking about how we can set priorities and then make sure that our actions match those priorities. 

          But the clarity of our actions needs to be in consultation with those that our actions affect.  For instance, a man worked very hard to provide for his family, because his family was the most important thing in his life.  He worked long hours, and ensured that his children had the best of everything.  One day, when he got home late after a long day at work, his 8-year-old son asked him how much he made an hour.  He wasn't particularly comfortable discussing this with a child, but his son persisted.  He finally told him, "I'll tell you, but you're not to tell anyone else.  I make $150.00 an hour."  His son thought for a second, and then asked, "could I borrow $20?"  The man got very angry.  His son only wanted to know how much he made so that he could borrow money from him.  He sent the boy to his room.  After a bit, he calmed down, and went to speak with his son, to find out what was so important that he had stayed up late to borrow 20 bucks.  His son got up and went to a box where he saved his allowance.  Inside, was $130.  "Why do you need to borrow $20 from me, when you've already got $130?  What is so important?"  "I want to buy an hour of your time, Dad, so we can do something together."

          That man's priority of putting his family first by providing for them, deprived them of his time, attention and presence.  His intentions were great, but he never thought about how his actions affected his family. 

          Sports is another area where we can see how teams set priorities.  In February 2012 Cory Weissman led out the men's basketball team of Gettysburg College for their last game of the season. Four years earlier he had suffered a stroke that left him paralyzed on one side. Four years of rehab and he was able to walk with a limp, but was still not able to play competitively. But before his stroke he had been on the varsity team and the Gettysburg coach wanted to give him a few seconds on court as a senior. So Cory was nominated captain and led out the starting five for what was both his first and last game for Gettysburg, for he was now due to graduate.

          Knowing the struggle it was just to be there, the crowd and the players from both teams greeted him with wild applause. The Gettysburg coach gave him a few minutes on court before benching him.

          With one minute to go, Gettysburg was well ahead so the coach sent Cory back out on court. The Washington coach called time out and instructed his players to foul Cory Weissman. For those who don't know basketball this was a very generous act, for it meant Cory would be given two shots at the basket.

          Cory takes his place at the free throw line, feels the weight of the ball in his hands, lifts and shoots. It misses badly. But he has a second and final shot left. Again he feels the weight of the ball in his hands, lifts and shoots. This time the ball flies straight through the hoop, and the crowd breaks out in thunderous applause.

          The assistant vice president for athletics at Gettysburg, David Wright, later wrote to Washington College: "Your coach, Rob Nugent, along with his … staff and student-athletes, displayed a measure of compassion that I have never witnessed in over 30 years of involvement in intercollegiate athletics."  This story was told by Frank Record in a piece called, "When there's more to winning than winning."

          So, what are our priorities?  What's the goal?  How do we achieve it?  Can we follow the instructions Christ gave his disciples, to be last of all and servant of all?

          Let us pray:  Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters we do also for you:  give us the will to be the servant of others as you were the servant of all, and gave up your life and died for us, but are alive and reign, now and forever.  Amen.

Sermon: Power in the Little Things

          "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." 

          Our New Testament lesson from James reminds us of the power of little things – a bit to guide a horse, a rudder to steer a boat, and the tongue, which has the power of the Word.  This is no small power!

          God spoke the world into existence.  John points out that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.   There are warnings about speaking throughout the Bible.  Two commandments of ten are about speaking:  You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor; and you shall not take the name of the Lord in vain. 

          There's a saint whose day we celebrate in January, Vincent of Zaragoza, and it occurred to me that there are a few interesting things to note about Vincent.  First, he was appointed Deacon to Valerius of Zaragoza, who was the Bishop and who is said to have had a speech impediment.  He therefore did not speak often in public.  As Deacon, it was Vincent's job to preach about Christ and assist conversions, but he also took upon himself to speak on behalf of Bishop Valerius.  Valerius had the higher station, and yet when both were arrested by Emperor Diocletian, Vincent was the one put to death.  Diocletian considered Vincent the greater threat, as he was eloquent, and spoke of the “One God” and of Christ, convincing others through his teachings of the truth of the Faith.  Valerius, while having greater authority, could not or would not speak in such a way as to accomplish the same.  Vincent even convinced his prison guard to convert before he was put to death.   I'm not saying we want to be put to death for speaking the truth, but I do want to point out the power of that "small thing."

          Proverbs is full of warnings about speaking and the power of the Word.  In today's Old Testament lesson, Wisdom warns the foolish and invites the simple to gain in knowledge and understanding with her teaching.

          Will Rogers once said, "live that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip."  Gossip – that other form of speaking that can both get people into trouble, and be completely misleading, depending upon the nature of the person spreading the gossip.  A good word of advice came from Henry Lesser in poetic form:

In the course of your conversation each and every day,

Think twice, try to be careful of what you have to say;

Your remarks may be picked up by someone's listening ear,

You may be surprised at what some people think they hear.

Things that you innocently say, or try to portray,

Can be changed, and greatly exaggerated along the way;

Many stories change for the worse as they are retold.

So try to keep any questionable remarks "on hold."

May I give all of you some very sound advice?

When you speak of others, say something nice;

Try to say good things, regardless of who is around,

If you have nothing good to say, don't utter a sound.

You may find that an innocent remark, in the end,

May lose you a close and valued friend.

          "With [our tongue] we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing."  In our New Testament lesson, James tells us, "this ought not to be so."  He points out that opposite characteristics cannot come from the same source.  What then does that mean for what comes out of our mouths?

          There's a polite reminder that people will utter when our mouths are getting away from us:  do you kiss your mother with that mouth?

          In Mark, we hear the power of the words spoken by people – "who do others say that I am?"  And, "who do you say that I am?"  We hear Peter proclaiming Christ to be the Messiah, and with the same voice, rebuking Christ for telling the disciples uncomfortable truths.  If we believe Christ to be the Messiah, and we believe that Christ is God made manifest – who are we to contradict God?

          Our Psalm today begins, "The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork."  Are we not made in the image of God?  Don't we then have an even greater responsibility for our words to reflect the glory of God, His handiwork, laws and commandments?  "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you" is not just a nice way to begin a sermon, but rather a plea that God will help our words and actions be that reflection.

          For churches, we all invoke the name of Jesus Christ for the power in our prayers.  So the question is, do you believe that the name of Jesus Christ has power?  Or are you just paying it lip service because that's what we do here at church? 

          It makes me curious, as there are so many modern sayings about the lack of power that words have.  Look at what I do and not what I say; sticks and stones can break my bones, but names can never hurt me; actions speak louder than words; well done is better than well said.  It used to be that an agreement and a handshake were far better than a written contract – my word is my bond.

          When did humanity decide that the Word has lost power?  And I rather wonder, did God change His mind about the power of the Word?  If not, should we perhaps learn to make sure that our Words match our actions, and that we are careful in what we say, seeing that there actually is quite a lot of power in the Word.

Sermon: Breathing in Communion with God

          Fr. Alexander Schmemann wrote with regard to man in modern-day context:  "He still loves, he is still hungry. He knows he is dependent on that which is beyond him. But his love and his dependence refer only to the world in itself. He does not know that breathing can be communion with God. He does not realize that to eat can be to receive life from God in more than its physical sense. He forgets that the world, its air or its food cannot by themselves bring life, but only as they are received and accepted for God’s sake, in God and as bearers of the divine gift of life. By themselves they can produce only the appearance of life."

          We've been talking for several weeks now about the bread that we choose to eat, the food that nourishes not only our bodies, but our souls.  This week, though, we have changed the focus from what we eat or consume, to how that manifests in our lives.  Going back to our New Testament reading from James, "In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures."

          So, first fruits – we remember where we first heard that phrase – in Genesis, where Cain brings the first fruits of his harvest.  Leviticus 23 gives instructions on what qualifies as a first fruits' offering.  Deuteronomy 26 is an entire chapter about how you provide the first fruits.  But here, James is saying that we, ourselves, in being reborn through baptism as Christians, are actually the first fruits.  Our actions, our choices, our communion with God by the very breath we breathe, must reflect the very best we have to offer. 

          Why?  Well, once again, it goes back to baptism.  In being baptized in Christ, we not only receive the grace that Christ offers us to have eternal life, but we accept the commission to let others know that that gift, that acceptance into the family of God, is available to everyone.  Christ's death and acceptance of the world's sins was for every single person who has ever or will ever exist.  His resurrection is a promise that we will live with God, eternally.

          So then, how do we fulfill that commission?  How do we let people know about Christ?  How do we invite them to discover the greatest gift mankind has ever known for themselves?

          If we're bold, outgoing, perfectly comfortable with ourselves, we probably just tell people.  We talk about Christ, talk about church, stand in the middle of wherever we are when someone asks us to pray for them, and do it.  And while I have the greatest of admiration for people who are capable of such things – even while standing up here in a collar – that is not one of my skills.

          So let's switch topics, and discuss the meaning of "free speech" as it pertains to our First Amendment in the United States.  I'm going to borrow a portion of the speech from "The American President":  "You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country can't just be a flag; the symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms. Then, you can stand up and sing about the "land of the free"."

          Now, you know me – I'm not one who is ever going to advocate flag burning.  But, this is a dramatic example that actions qualify as free speech.  And there, you have the point that I'm trying to make.  Our actions qualify as a way to "tell" people about Christ, and the Christian life.  What we choose to do reflects what we've eaten.  How we behave tells people more about what we believe, oftentimes, than what we say. 

          So think about these questions:  Do we walk our talk?  Would someone we don't know well be able to identify us as a Christian?  Are we more of a do what I say, not what I do, type of person?  Do we live a life of integrity?

          Christ said in Mark's Gospel today, "There is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile."  The things that come out – our actions, toward ourselves and others – matter.  Are we a Samaritan … or a stranger?

          The last thing I want to mention is one portion of our Old Testament reading.  "But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children—"  Our churches are shrinking, and oftentimes, our children have no idea that God is there, that they are not alone – because we haven't told them.  We've let what they eat and consume become less and less about honoring God and more and more about appearing to live.  We have to live up to our own Baptismal covenant, and with God's help, proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ; seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves; and strive for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being.

          This week, I want us to focus on the concept that "breathing can be communion with God."  If we even think about that three times a day – as often as we eat - how much more can we be aware of our every action, and how it reflects what we choose to consume?

Sermon: The Difficult Concepts

            Is there such a thing as objective beauty?  You know me and my fascination with comparative religion, so let's look at what the Tao te Ching says about beauty:  "Under heaven all can see beauty as beauty only because there is ugliness.  All can know good as good only because there is evil."  The Tao looks at comparative opposites as being necessary for either to exist.  It teaches a balance of things.

            Now, at the same time, St. Augustine teaches that God created all things good – just look at the first chapter of Genesis.  Therefore, as with darkness only being able to exist where there is light, evil does not exist by itself, but is an absence of good. 

            So to extrapolate from the first question – is there such a thing as objective beauty?  Can beauty exist without a comparison? 

            So let's tackle a question that is easier for us to answer, but still doesn't have an easier explanation:  can good exist without a comparison?  As Christians, we go back to the source – God pronounced His creation good, from the Earth to the Heavens to the animals to humans.  So of course good can exist without evil.  But why do we believe that?  More than that, why do we believe that, and others – like the Taoists – don't?

            The simple and complex answer, of course, is faith.  We have faith that the Bible is the Word of God, and that through the action of the Word, we meet Jesus Christ.  Our Gospel readings these last several weeks have had some pretty tough concepts to understand, and today, it culminates in many of Christ's disciples throwing up their hands, and saying, "This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?" 

            People like things to be clear and understandable.  It makes them clear-cut and able to be categorized.  Unfortunately, knowledge is rarely clear-cut and organized. 

            Did you know that there have been over 8.7 million species of creatures categorized by our scientists?  And that they categorize approximately 15,000 more every year?  Given what they know about our land masses, couldn't they extrapolate an approximate number of species in existence?  And yet, none of them are willing to do so.  Why?  Well, approximately 99% of all living space on Earth is under the ocean, but we've only explored about 10% of that.  Those statistics tell us that there's a lot more that we don't know than there is of what we do know.  And sometimes knowing how much we don't know causes us to have that much more faith that what we do know is accurate and true.

            But how many things do we truly not understand, and still accept it enough on faith that we move forward, just as the twelve disciples did in John's Gospel?

            Let's take for example, Paul's letter to the Ephesians.  Last week, the portion of the letter we read gave us specific examples of how to live:  to choose things wisely, and avoid drunkenness and debauchery; to be filled with the Spirit and exemplifying that through song.  This week, Paul refers to putting on the whole armor of God, using the metaphors of the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of Faith, helmet of Salvation, the sword of the Spirit which is also the Word.  And ensuring that you're dressed head to toe, he advises that you wear whatever shoes will help you be ready to proclaim the Gospel of Peace. 

            There's plenty in that one passage to dig into and discuss, working to understand the complexities of each metaphor.  But right now, we're looking at things that are difficult to understand, and yet we accept that we do not understand them at present.  To do that, we're going to look just a few verses earlier in this letter, to a section that is tough for our modern-day minds to understand:  Paul addresses slaves and masters, exhorting slaves to obey their masters as they would obey Christ, and urging masters to treat their slaves well, as we all have the same Master in Heaven and He shows no partiality.  If God shows no partiality, why is slavery even an issue within Christian society?  And yet, Paul does not tell masters to free their slaves.  He doesn't rail against a social norm of the time.  How do we justify our belief and understanding in the protection of the Armor of God, without addressing the spectre of slavery just 5 verses before?  If you're interested, I just listened to a podcast this week that had an interview with Scot McKnight, who wrote a commentary about Paul's Letter to Philemon, which deals almost entirely about the subject of slavery. 

            The disciples this week don't actually understand the concepts of Christ being the bread of life, of eating his flesh and drinking his blood.  Christians had a reputation for being cannibals in the early formation of the Church for a reason.  They repeated the words of Christ, sharing the bread and wine of the last supper, but not truly understanding them.  Simon Peter's response to Christ's question of whether they would be leaving Him as well is pretty straightforward:  “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” 

            Religious scholars are numerous as they work through the meanings of words, the context in which they're set, the genre of passages, etc.  Some scholars spend their entire lives trying to figure out one concept, writing article after book after commentary, and finding that truly, it comes down to faith.  The unknown is answered by our faith in God.

            We, like the twelve disciples in today's Gospel, are willing to stay and struggle with the difficult concepts.  Through our baptism, our confirmation, and both our request for our daily bread in the Lord's Prayer and our participation in the Eucharist, we choose to act on what we know and believe, and trust that understanding of the rest will come in time.  We reiterate Joshua's statement, "as for our house, we will serve the Lord."  May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.