Rector's Sermon - Sunday, September 14, 2003

First Reading	Psalm	Epistle	Gospel
Isaiah 50:4-9	Wisdon of Solomon 7:26-8:1	James 3:1-12	Mark 8:27-38

   There is an old folktale about two farmers who became entangled in a boundary dispute. Finally after many bitter words and threats, one farmer got a few of his friends to come at night and move a fence back twenty feet, cutting down and destroying all the crops the fence had protected. The other farmer in retaliation went out the following night with a bag of salt and dumped it down into his neighbor's well. A few days later, the second farmer discovered a salty taste in his well also, for both wells drew on ground water from the same source.

   I'd like to learn the sequel to the story. What do the farmers do now? Do they recognize that forgiveness and repentance are real possibilities that hold out hope for the future and are intrinsically necessary for their continued common existence? Do they now work together in finding a new source of water and redefine their boundaries recognizing that vindictiveness and revenge ultimately poison everyone involved. Or does the next night involve fire or bloodshed?

   This is more than a rhetorical question for the raging in our world threatens to poison all our wells, too. It's easy to wish for a romanticized church of the past, when the major issue seemed to be what Sunday to start the pledge campaign or where the church picnic should be held. It's so tempting to yearn for a glorified church of the future when all will get along and everyone will recognize that we were right all along. But the only church we are a part of is the church right now and the key to discipleship is asking where do we go from here in our world.

   In his sermon last week, Bishop Adams remarked on Jesus' strange sense of geography, of going out of his way to foreign, backwater places rather than taking the established, safe routes. This strange sense of geography continues in today's lesson. The town of Caesarea Philippi was so built and named in honor of Philip the local ruler, and Caesar, the ruler of the empire. It was a place that symbolized the seat and prerogatives of power There would have been Roman soldiers on leave and regional officials everywhere. It is no wonder that when Peter blurted out to Jesus, "You are the Messiah,” Jesus said, “shush!” The word messiah would have practically the same meaning as the word rebel, revolutionary or terrorist to the firm order that had been established. For Jesus and the disciples, any open proclamation of the Gospel likely would have placed them in danger.

   Quickly obvious, it becomes clear that the disciples did not understand Jesus' message too well. Jesus was not calling them to avoid trouble and to seek the most comfortable road. It was a path none of them would have wished for. Indeed, Peter needed to understand that Jesus was leading the disciples into trouble and threatening situations

   Nonetheless, The Good News in this incident at Caesarea Philippi was that, while angry and disappointed with his disciples, Jesus did not cut them loose or send them away. Jesus stayed with them and continued teaching them, starting right there in the imperial town. Jesus was teaching that God calls us to deal and bear problems rather than walking away from or dismissing them.

   It will be difficult work to write a sequel to the farmers with the salty wells. The wells will not give sweet water again over night. Water will have to be found elsewhere, and it will be inconvenient and even discouraging work ahead. Some of the crops or animals on both farms may not make it. Yet, in some way, as we leave each day for our own towns of power and influence, we begin to live the sequel.

   And I offer this to you in the name of the Living God, Amen.