Reading for Epiphany
3B: Mark 1:14-20
January 26, 2003
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
Jesus said: "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." (Mk. 1)
Prior to World War I,* churches in the United States tended to have strong adult Sunday Schools, a widely credible lay spiritual leadership, and a passion and energy for local and global missions. Respect for the clergy was based on sacramental identity, teaching ability, and missionary zeal. After World War I, something happened to the theological psyche of many churchgoers. Maybe it was the devastation of war. Maybe it was a lack of hope that God could really save humanity. Maybe it was too much focus by the Church on metaphysical speculation. Whatever it was, most people in the United States became increasingly skeptical about God-stuff. Instead, they became more enamoured with scientific education and preoccupied with advancing their own personal lives.
After World War II, the population began to expand exponentially. People became even more skeptical about God- stuff. Congregations began to look inwards and were more concerned about caring for their own. Clergy were no longer respected as intermediaries of the Holy, teachers of truth, or motivators for mission. Instead, clergy were valued on the basis of how warm and friendly they were and how well they were able to take care of the emotional needs of the congregation. Seminaries substituted courses on prophetic preaching with courses in clinical pastoral education, family systems therapy, and counseling. Congregations became "church families", women's mission societies became "fellowship groups," and clergy became "pastoral caregivers." Lacking confidence in God's power, skeptical parishioners refocused the energy once given to spreading the gospel to the task of having their own needs met. By the 1980's, the transition from a missionary organization to a maintenance organization was completed in most mainline churches. It is into this context that we read today's gospel.
The time and place is first century Palestine. Jesus is beginning his ministry and has come to Galilee to preach after the arrest of John the Baptist. Having been empowered by the Spirit of God in Baptism, and having overcome the temptations of personal power, materialism, and prestige, Jesus is ready to preach the good news and lay out God's vision for the world. This vision is often referred to as the Kingdom of God. In order to make a larger impact in spreading this vision, Jesus begins to build up an organization. He knows that he can't do it alone. In today's gospel, Jesus calls four simple fishermen to come and follow him. Eventually, he will call 8 other core leaders. Jesus sought out individuals who would refocus their primary time and energy in spreading the message of God. Jesus did not require his disciples to have correct theological beliefs or to be able to engage in scholarly theological speculation. Jesus required commitment and discipleship. This organizational structure that Jesus began, grew over time. It is now called the Church. The primary mission of the Church is to make disciples of Christ. How faithful our Church is to this mission will have a lot to do with its future sustainability.
Jesus said: "Whoever would be my disciple Let him follow me! Jesus pointed his finger toward God, toward the kingdom, and toward a vision that would create a new reality. He called his disciples to follow him as the way, the truth, and the life. And for some time, discipleship was at the core of Christianity. But over time, theological speculation began to dominate discipleship. Orthodoxy took precedence over orthopraxy. The Institution began to engrave Jesus' finger in stone, and people began to worship the finger instead of following Jesus. Perhaps this is why churchgoers became skeptical and forgot about the power and presence of God. Today's gospel calls the Church back to its primary mission which is to participate in the creation of a new world by raising up disciples of Christ.
This vision of a new world, of a new life, has three core elements:**
1. First, the new life begins with an acknowledgment and awakening in the Spirit of God. This new life, this being born again, means- "dying to the self"- the false self that is grounded in woundedness, pride, narcissism, insatiable appetites, and fear. This death of the false self leads to a new life, a new way of being. Being "born of the Spirit" creates a radically new identity; an awakening to that place where one has an intimate experience and relationship with God.
2. The second core element of the life in the Spirit is its dominant quality of compassion. Compassion is both a feeling and a way of being. It is a tenderness towards others which makes empathy possible; a capacity to be moved by other people's situation. Compassion is a grace, not an achievement. Its constancy does not ultimately depend upon an effort of will but upon one's relationship to the Holy Spirit. When we become radically centered in God, emptying ourselves like Jesus emptied himself, it is then that we can be filled with the Spirit of God, the compassionate one. While other religions may seek the goal of enlightenment or ethical perfection, compassion is the goal of Christianity. Love God and love your neighbor. The rest is commentary.
3. Finally, a life in the Spirit means that our relationship to the culture changes. This means that we do not base our security on the values of status, identity, nation, family, work, possessions, or money. The dominant values of contemporary American culture such as affluence, achievement, appearance, power, competition, consumption, individualism, are vastly different from anything recognizably Christian. As Christians, we are called to transform the culture by standing up for justice in our social, economic, and political institutions. Where we there is hatred in our culture, we are called to sow love. Where there is disease and distress in the culture, we are called to be agents of healing. Where there is darkness, and cynicism in our culture, we are called to be icons of hope. Where there is corruption and abuse in our culture, we are called be agents of truth and good news. As people made new in the Spirit, we live lives of sacrifice, generosity, stewardship, inclusivity, and mercy - a way of life that is very counter cultural.
God has a vision for this world. It is a vision when nation will not lift up sword against nation; neither shall they learn war any more. (Is.2) A vision when the oldest of enemies become best of friends; when the wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard lie down with the kid, and a little child shall lead them. (Is.11) A time when humanity is at one, when there are no borders to protect or self-interests to fight for. (Is.2) A vision when healing and compassion become dominant themes such that the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the fearful relieved, the poor fed, and all people are given the opportunity to live a full life. (Is. 35, Mt.11) A vision of time when God's law will not need to be inscribed in books because it will be inscribed in the hearts of people such they will live in harmony with each other. (Jer.31) A time when we care for the earth as we care for ourselves such that the discouraged wilderness blossoms and flourishes and is restored to full function. (Is. 35).
If you share this vision, then come and follow Jesus. Christianity does not consist primarily of having correct beliefs about the historical Jesus, but consists of having a relationship with the living Christ. Come and experience the power and presence of God that has been revealed to us by Jesus. This power is far greater than our own ego strength. This power and presence of God working through faithful disciples is far greater than all of the military arsenals in the world. This power and presence of the Holy Spirit working through us has the potential to heal, to forgive, to reconcile, to give new life, to make all creation new. What more could a person want out of life?
As the body of Christ, it is time for the Church to refocus our attention and energy on our primary mission which is to raise up disciples of Christ. How can we, the people of St. Jude's, spread the good news of Christ in a social climate that is skeptical of God and has strong anti-Christian sentiments? We can only influence others by the power of God working through us. As our own lives are transformed, as we become disciples of compassion, people will be drawn to us and to our church. There is a spiritual vacuum out there. People are longing for spiritual renewal, a loving community, and a foundation for hope. When St. Jude's becomes a "spiritual oasis where lives are transformed", outsiders will say yes to our invitation and our impact on the surrounding community will be phenomenal.
The clergy, the staff, and the vestry have committed themselves to holding up this new vision for all future long term strategic planning. And our new vision is this: St. Jude's is a spiritual oasis where lives are transformed. I am asking all of you who have committed yourself to Christ in baptism to be part of making this vision a reality. One by one, disciples are made and through these transformed lives, a new world is made possible. Come and follow Jesus.
*-Net Results, January 2003, page 20.
** Jesus, A New Vision; by Marcus Borg; HarperSF, 1987.
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