Seeking Inner Peace in the Midst of Hostility--A Worthy Goal
A sermon preached by The Reverend Carolynne G. Williams
Mikell Chapel
Proper 11B
July 23, 2006
Ephesians 2:11-22
Gospel Mark: 6:30-34 and 53-56
7:45 and 9:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
This letter written to the Ephesians declares that “peace is made available by Christ to everyone.”
Peace, especially, during these times seems to be quite elusive. Over 20, 000 Americans, citizens of this country being evacuated from Lebanon because of the deep divisions that shatter a people who are clinging to what they believe to be rightfully theirs.
Peace during these times seems to be elusive.
Citizens of this country who move about on American soil routinely are subjected to scrutiny and surveillance because of the horrible events of 9/11. In the words of former secretary of state Madeline Albright in her book, The mighty and the Almighty, She says “that day, September 11 ,marked the full emergence of a new and complex challenge to the national security of the united states.” We live and move and have our being in ways that we don’t want to embrace just to remain good citizens.
I was going through a security check point the other day with my husband, we were detained. It was suggested to me that the belt that I had removed and put in my purse be sent through separately the next time, because the design of the belt looked like bullets. As I reviewed the appearance of the belt from a place of potential hostility, as I am sure that these folks have to do, they were correct.
Perry’s sleep machine that is used for sleep apnea was subjected to additional x-ray for God only knows the reason.
Citizens who are protected and citizens who want to be protected against the evil acts of others are mindful of each other. The potential is ever present, to be in harms way.
We live in drastically different ways now, as opposed to even ten years ago. This does not imply that we do not have faith in God. What it does say is that in seeking, regaining and retaining the ever present desire to be at peace, all sorts of measures are adhered to.
They are sought and put into place. The walls of defense are defined and redefined. We, as citizens of the country in which we live and carriers of the faith in which we have been baptized are ever seeking and claiming the grace of our lord.
At times peace seems indefinable. And even though “this place of peace” seems “hard to pin down” , we as citizens, we as faith subscribers look for the place to stand in the midst of the potential walls that divide us and pull us away from community.
The wall of division exist between countries, and in some instances rightfully so. These walls of division exist on levels of living and working and praying and being that are far too numerous to count this morning. However, in the midst of the walls of division that we all encounter in our daily living, there is a place that is called a place of peace that is there through the uniting of the body of Christ for all who desire this symmetry.
In the early church during the days of Paul, Paul’s anguish over the fate of fellow Jews who did not accept Jesus as messiah was very apparent. “Paul concluded that Jewish disbelief had opened the way for non-Jews.”
Through Christ, the barriers between people who were on opposing sides of the covenant were brought together.
Christ proclaimed peace to all of God’s people and the walls of hostility, the barriers of separation were diminished. Everyone who
Had a stake in seeking peace recognized and accepted the very present fact of having access to God.
Having access to God is a comforting way of living. The people of Israel and the people of this world today can have peace. In the desire to live in the freedom of God’s love, the driving force which is permeated through and through by the Holy spirit is foundational.
It is the center of seeking, gaining and having peace within.
If faith centered in Christ is not first and foremost, the walls of division become terminal.
The gospel of Mark reminds us of the citizens who were following the healer. Some were going ahead of him to the next region because they wanted to get a good seat. They wanted to be able to touch the hem of his garment. They were weary. Not always, but they would become worn and recognize fatigue within them from the day to day living.
Yes, his disciples were weary. God as the good shepherd recognized that they, the disciples, needed refreshment and renewal . He told them to “come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest awhile”. (Mark 6:31)
Come to my table and have supper with me. We are invited to come to the table. It will bring refreshment and renewal.
The embrace of inner peace is ever present. How do we know this?
When we reach to connect with the presence of the almighty, a sense of clam prevails. This calm and rest prevails in the midst of the divisions and hostility.
The walls of hostility are eventually crumbled when peace is sought. It takes sometimes scores of years. Sometimes one generation hands the mantle over to the next. Through it all, faith in God continues to sustain us and the face of reconciliation will prevail. “The peace of empires is not true peace”. True peace is found in the prevailing presence of God. Always and forever.
God is a loving benefactor offering all people a stake in salvation.
Amen.
Comments? Contact The Rev. Carolynne Williams: cwilliams@stphilipscathedral.org