Rector's Sermon - Sunday, June 2, 2002

First Reading	Psalm	Epistle	Gospel
Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28	31:1-5, 19-24	Romans 1:16-17; 3-22b-28, (29-31)	Matthew 7:21-29

      There is an old story about a teacher who guided his disciples up a high mountain to spend the night. They camped far above the tree line, and when the sun went down, they were surrounded by a cosmic silence as uncountable stars filled the dark dome of heaven overhead. They were curious if there would be any sounds during the night, so they pressed the record button on a tape recorder before they retired. When they returned to the retreat house, they replayed the tape. There was not a sound, but their teacher exclaimed, "don't you hear it?'. "Hear what?" "The moon in its appointed course, keeping time with the harmony of galaxies in motion", replied the teacher.

      As Jesus traveled among the people of Galilee, he encountered much sickness that was attributed to demons. While the people of the time had no scientific knowledge, they were perceptive enough to observe that in some instances of illness, it was as if a person had been invaded by a foreign being and the victim's behavior was being controlled by a hostile presence hidden inside. "He is not himself," they would say.

      It is a mistake to push the concept of an invasion of evil spirits completely into the realm of grade B horror and science fiction flicks or to contemptuously dismiss such notions as merely unsophisticated and ignorant superstition. People's minds do become disturbed, disoriented, and disordered. Often there is a direct, observable cause. Yet there are many instances when modern medicine finds no direct cause. It is as if something in peoples' past haunts and tortures them. Originally it may have been a really small and ordinary component of life, perhaps debris that should have been discarded long ago, but somehow manages to stay around and rot. It swells to ridiculous proportions, and begins to infect and squeeze out normal functioning of everything around it.

      Whatever their name or derivation, demons are by nature selfish, and they strive to drive out anything else that might offer an alternative or a possibility of hope. Being possessed is like trying to build a house with only a Phillips screwdriver. Having one demon control all your thoughts and behavior is as frustrating and as painful as trying to saw two by fours with a Phillips screwdriver.

      There are certain marine animals that take over the discarded shell of a shellfish. Unable to grow a shell of their own, they must depend upon finding anther's body covering for their protection. Like the marine animal that must find a shell, often the forces of possessive or demonic behaviors must justify their spreading existence under the cover of seemingly rational shells. The shells of religion, philosophy, and patriotism are all too common hosts to infectious demons.

      Many times, Jesus' ministry seems to be a ministry of listening rather than talking. Demons persistently shut down conversation and dialogue, shouting, "Pay attention to me and me alone, don't notice any change, don't think hope is possible, just heed my screams!" Jesus said to such screaming demons, "Silence!" In Jesus' presence those possessed of demons regained a sense of calm. With the noise of the demons squelched, those possessed were able to listen to a new song.

      The root of the word obedience comes from the verb to hear. If one wants to be obedient to the call of God, one must first listen and hear. Demented and possessed people can't bear silence, and find it very difficult waiting to hear other voices The lessons today are all somehow related to discipleship. They speak in different voices over various periods of times, and it takes some careful listening to appreciate what they are saying to us. Yet to be an obedient disciples, does not mean to unquestionably follow one sole voice. Far from it, obedient discipleship involves being willing to hear and distinguish many voices. Silence may not offer an instant cure, but it may well be an effective antidote to the confounding static and infectious noise of the world.

      And I offer this to you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen