This week from Mitch

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This week's Gospel, Mathew 10, is one of the hardest Gospels for me to preach on. In it, Jesus calls the disciples and then sends them out with both a commission and warning. The commission is straight forward: spread the word, heal the sick, help the blind see! The warning is severe. Paraphrasing, Jesus basically says, "I come not to bring peace, but a sword. Mother will be against daughter, daughter against mom, son against father, and father against son."

As Episcopalians we naturally look for the middle ground. The "via media" is something we proclaim. It's why, during the Eucharist at St. Martin's, people who are so incredibly different can go to the same altar. Yet, Jesus points out that there are certain things that cannot be compromised. Right vs. wrong ... there is no gray line, just a line, a sword cutting between the two. The national conversation that continues on racial inequality is one such issue. You either believe that we were all created in God's image or you don't. There is no middle ground. 

Matthew 10 ends with Jesus asking us to take up our cross and follow him. I think that part of taking up our cross means not being silent when our basic understandings of faith are violated. If you, for instance, believe that God created us in God's image, and you see or hear something contrary to that, even when it is said by family, a Christian has to speak. As hard as it may be in such cases, silence is sin. As Episcopalians, we are a people of Love and Compromise. With that being said, there are points in each of our faith journeys where being a people of love means being uncompromising. "Respecting the dignity of every human being" (our baptismal covenant) is one such place.

In Christ,

Mitch+