Sermon - July 31, 2005

The Eleventh Sunday After Pentecost 2005
William B. Lane

The crowds came out to Jesus, drawn to him by his words and works that they had either experienced or heard about from others. Many who were able brought sick friends or family members to Jesus in expectation that he could and would heal them. Here was an opportunity to know health of body, mind and spirit. And Jesus responded to them out of compassion and pity and healing did take place.

Men, women and children still come to Jesus and they do so often through the Church, for the Church is the extension of Jesus, of the incarnation, into the word; it is the presence of the Christ in and for all generations. They come to encounter the compassionate Lord and be renewed by God’s grace that flows from him to all who call upon him.

So it must be, that if the Church is to be faithful to its Lord, it must always seek to be his presence, to speak his word and to do his work, starting at home and reaching out even to the ends of the earth. It will and does have moments of struggle with this high calling, and it will find itself, as Jacob did, wrestling with God. That is, the Church often struggles with it is holy commission, at times, perhaps too often, seeking to put that commission down and replace it with one of its own design.

As the evening approached, the disciples felt overwhelmed by the immensity of what Jesus was doing and the potential responsibility that his ministry held for them. Did Jesus expect them to care for the crowd; did the crowd itself expect to be cared for? Send them away, they are going to be hungry and there is no place for purchasing food around here. We can’t care for them.

But that is just what Jesus has in mind, they will care for them. So, no, we won’t send them away, you, you disciples, you provide for them. Two fish and five loaves and over five thousand people to feed. The resources are not available. Yes they are says Jesus. The resources are always there, you are just too blind, too lacking in faith to have eyes to perceive them and put them to work. The resources are present and they will be enough, often even more than enough. In the case of the disciples, twelve symbolic baskets are left after all have been ministered to all have been satisfied.

To take on the high calling of Church, is to put on the mantle of the Christ, not unlike Elisha put on the mantle of Elijah. It is to speak his word and do his work and to welcome and have compassion for the world. Those who come to it because they hope, even expect to meet the Christ, must find a welcome in the Church, and experience him by its behavior.

That is the high calling of this body of the Church we call the Cathedral Church of the Nativity. In this place and time, Christ is to be known and made known in and from here. When men, women and children experience this Cathedral, they are to know that they have experienced its Lord. Any who come hungry for the word of God, must be feed; any who come broken, despondent or wounded, must be opened to the healing grace of their father in heaven. Any who come seeking to be of this fellowship and share in its ministry must find this their place. Here the joy of being the brothers and sisters of the Lord must be like that lamp set upon a hill, a clear and true beacon that no one is preferred more than another, for all are preferred by God.

The resources for exercising faithful ministry and Christ centered mission are also present in and with you. The wealth of talent, and financial resources are available, if there is the faith and commitment to turn them loose in the name of the Lord. There is no place in the Church, and thus in this Cathedral, for “if only.” “If only” people don’t see the promise, only themselves, as the disciples failed to see the promise, only a potential burden for them.

This is an awesome time to be the Church. Here, and even to the ends of the earth, the harvest truly is ready. The Holy Spirit is churning the waters upon which the Church rides, making it focus on the course God has set for it, keeping it from being complacent. This Cathedral has a little time during the period between Deans for introspection, but only a little. The Church is not privileged to be self-absorbed; it is privileged to be self-giving.

I have been privileged to see and know us in times of faithful and obedient to our stated reason for being: To know Christ, To make him known and To serve all people according to His example. I am also aware that I, you, and all of us together have missed opportunities and succumbed to our own agendas more often than we should, but I feel assured that God has blessed our faithfulness and does not hold our weakness against us once we own up to it and exorcise it.

Dear friends in Christ, please know that I know myself blessed by having been part of this part of the body of Christ. I give thanks for God’s blessing upon our life and for its increase during our time together, and for the promise of the multiplication of that life and work in the years to come. My prayer for you is that you rejoice in the good that is, and allow the Spirit to enable you to increase and multiply that good. Love those who are the “nay sayers”: and the “if onlys”, love them but don’t give them the reigns. Be trusting in the Lord, and you will find power that will mystify you and make you glad.

As we close our time together, I quote the words of Paul to the Corinthians:
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Amen.

Letter from the Bishop