A Message From Your Rector

Dear Parish Family:

Greetings in the promise and hope of God’s Kingdom on Earth! Summer is upon us, and as I write these thoughts we are fast approaching the 4^th of July. Patriotism seems to be running high these days, with flag waving at an all time high. People everywhere are preparing to celebrate with family, friends, and fireworks the independence of these United States; and it’s freedom from the British Empire. Ironically, a little over two hundred years ago, we thought of England as a nation of tyrants. Now she is our strongest ally, and some would even argue, that England has become our favorite colony. Time has a way of changing things, old attitudes are forgotten, new alliances are forged, and for the younger generations, it probably means nothing that we were once at war with this nation.

Power has a way of changing things, and if we are now friends of what’s left of the British Empire, may it be for the good of the world. Recently, both nations have come under heavy criticism from the international community because of the War on Iraq, and indeed as we celebrate American patriotism on the eve of our independence, we are reminded that all is not well with the world, and all is not well with our actions. As I listen to the weekly reports on the casualties from Iraq (over 200 U.S. troops killed since the war was declared over) and the even greater number of Iraqi civilians and children killed, I keep asking myself why? What exactly are we defending? In the end, has it helped to bring about peace in the Middle East? Has it lessened the threat of terrorist violence here at home?

It would be a genuine sign of the Kingdom if we as a people of God defended the rights of children in this country, with the same passion and heart wrenching patriotism, that we defend a war with a people that have done nothing to us. Imagine what it would be like if we were to accept nothing less than a first rate education for all the children of this nation, a first rate healthcare system available to every child, and a first rate nutritional initiative that would guarantee that no child goes to bed hungry? Imagine what it would be like if we had invested all that fortune literally blown away on war, to put people to work, and create affordable housing. That would certainly get me waving the flag, but tragically the scenario is a different one. No one seems to be addressing these and other critical issues. No one seems to be bothered by the fact that no evidence of "Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction" has been presented to the American public; but worse of all, our public demands no explanation; our Congress and Senate remain largely silent.

As a nation we seem to be moving toward a lethargic paralysis indifferent to the plight of the poor, and indifferent to the needs of the international community. The gap between rich and poor continues to widen, and yet here at home, far right Christian fundamentalists ignore all this, instead they make inflammatory remarks in the name of God, while promoting public policy and laws that ignore the plight of the marginalized in our society. They pride themselves in being true Americans while sanctioning a war that the Church at large deemed needless and useless. Perhaps the Church has not been vocal enough? Perhaps our leaders have been too cautious? Perhaps we are afraid to speak out? Perhaps we don’t want to appear unpatriotic in the face of 9/11? Certainly the Christian Right in this country has demonstrated it’s muscle, to the extreme that those in government who oppose the likes of Pat Roberton and Jerry Falwell, are afraid to speak-out against their so called Christian agenda. The Christian Coalition has become a very strong force in this nation, tragically promoting an agenda with little resemblance to the Gospel’s "good news" message to the outcast, marginalized, and disenfranchised. These things leave me wondering about the relevance of the Church today? We mainline Christians seem to have no zest, no appetite, for the Kingdom of God. We’ve become too comfortable, and for the generations that follow we leave little legacy of what being Church is all about. Churches score high on being places to worship, but sadly we fall short when it comes to making the Kingdom real. I sense that at some deep level, perhaps we don’t really believe in the vision of Jesus -- these are issues I struggle with, and indeed many in the Church struggle with these issues, I know I am not alone in this.

Last Sunday’s readings for the Holy Eucharist (the Third Sunday after Pentecost) reminded us of the call to practice justice and mercy. Here are some excerpts:

All these passages point to a spirit of "jubilee" and compassion. It is as if God could see what our inclinations would be when given a choice as to whether or not we would help our brother and sister in need, and God points us in a just direction. Ironically, the Gospel reading on the raising from the dead of the daughter of Jairos, apparently has no connection to this theme (Mark 5:22-24, 35b-43, NRSV) except that at the end of the reading the gospel tells us: "He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat." Why did Jesus instruct those present at this miracle to say nothing and keep silent? Indeed why does he often do this? Not being Jesus I can only speculate, but I sense that Jesus understood that the people present would get so caught up in the miracle, that they would ignore his message and teachings, and what was most important to our Lord, was his teachings on making real the Kingdom of God in our midst, he simply wanted to show us the Way, he simply wanted us, and calls on us to make it real.

We have the summer ahead of us. Most of us will be unaffected by the events of the world, we will continue in relative comfort, but in the midst of this we have a calling. Following in the steps of our Lord is probably the greatest challenge we will ever know, the implications are monumental. We are called and challenged to personal growth, honestly discarding that within us that keep us from growing and becoming full human beings; and then there is this other dimension of social responsibility, which we cannot escape as Christians. If we think about it too much, we will probably get discouraged, and repeat the words of the author of Ecclesiastes: "Life is useless, all useless" (Ecclesiastes 1:2 Good News Version). But there is hope in the Kingdom, and somehow God is present in the midst of all this chaos and confusion. It is a tragedy that people kill, lame and insult, in the name of God, killing the very spirit of religion in the process. For us who believe in the power, vision, and beauty of God this is a tragedy of epic proportions, yet here we are, cast in the midst of all this, how do we respond?

It is my prayer that we continue to enjoy the gifts we’ve received, while taking greater responsibility for what happens in our own world, and further away. It is my prayer that the church at large awakens from its lethargic paralysis and begins to take more of a prophetic stance on the issues that are destroying the prospects for peace in our time, and it is my prayer that we call into accountability the leaders of our various branches of government. Life is a mysterious journey, in the end it is a gift, but for so many millions of people throughout the world, it is a burden. What role do we play in this, as a nation is something for us to deeply explore. Going along with the program is not the Way of Christ. People are dieing, people are living in fear, people are in need, and in the midst of this, we have the Good News of our Lord. If only we would dare to live this Good News!!!

In the Deepest Humility,

The Rev. Wilfredo Benítez,

Rector

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