The Church of the Redeemer

The Third Sunday of Lent

March 23, 2003 

Last week the Episcopal Bishops of the United States met at the Kanuga Conference Center in North Carolina for their regular gathering.  One result of this meeting is a pastoral letter from the House of Bishops titled, “In the Shadow of War.”  In accordance with title III, canon 14 copies of this letter are located in the narthex and downstairs in the office area for anyone who wishes to have a copy.  Also, in accordance with Title III, I will begin the sermon this morning by reading the body of the letter. 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

We, your bishops, write to you in perilous times. We do not know what the next days will bring. War and the threat of war make many afraid for the welfare of all that they love, and all those whom they hold dear. Such fear gnaws at the edges of consciousness and can shake the foundations upon which we have built our lives and our communities.  

We do know that the certainty of God's goodness and faithfulness can never be shaken. In a time of great violence and anxiety we, as Christians, are not to acquiesce to fear; we are to witness to the reconciling love of God. 

We are aware that within the community of faith there are a variety of opinions about the course our nation is pursuing. Nevertheless, Christians are called by Jesus to regard all persons as neighbors, to reach out in mercy, and to pray for one another and for our enemies. 

We remind ourselves now of those who need our prayers and concerns: all who will be caught up in this conflict, our military personnel including our chaplains, their families, people who suffer for conscience sake, Arab Americans of all faiths, followers of Islam around the world - the great majority of whom share a longing for peace, and the people of Iraq, among whom are more than one million Christians. Our prayers must continue for George, our President, and for the leaders of the nations, that they will make wise and measured decisions that will protect the innocent and will result in a swift and just peace, and the full restoration of the land and people of Iraq. 

In this season of conflict and danger, our Church is called to be a community where all people can join in prayer for peace and healing in God's beloved world, for loved ones and those in harm's way, and for the assurance of our Lord's merciful presence and providence in the midst of crisis. As your bishops, we commit ourselves to adopt a discipline of fasting and prayer for the return of peace. We commend such a discipline to each of you. We urge our congregations to open their doors for prayer and to be places where all can find the hospitality and hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. 

In all times and circumstances, our faith is set upon the firm foundation of the love of Christ. We reaffirm our confidence that "neither death nor life...nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38,39) 

In these difficult times, may God give us the strength to witness to the Divine compassion.   

The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church

March 18, 2003 

The House of Bishops has provided us solid counsel as to how we, as Christians of the Episcopal Church are being called to act during this most difficult time. Also, what is noteworthy about this letter is what it is not. It is neither a protest against the current military action, nor a letter of support for it.  The time for protesting this action has passed; a decision has been made by our President to enter into military conflict. No matter what our position on this matter maybe, the debate is over and our focus needs to move away from that issue and onto the greater issue, true and lasting peace.  The lasting peace that can only be found when adhering to the teachings of Christ to “Love our neighbor as ourselves.” 

In St. Paul’s letter to the Romans he talks of his frustration over following his own desires and the teachings of Jesus at the same time.   The quandary Paul discusses is a familiar problem for all of us.  We know what the Gospels ask of us, but to actually follow through on their direction is often contrary to what we want or feel.  This morning our Bishops warn us against giving into our fears.  The one thing many of us feel an overwhelming thing to do.   I believe fear is the most divisive and alienating of emotions, second only to anger.  As we look at the current situation, the cohesiveness of the United Nations has broken down due to fear.  Saddam Hussein plays on the fears of the Arab, afraid the super powers of the west will destroy their culture and faith.  The west fears Saddam Hussein’s development and build up of weapons of mass destruction, afraid that some day he will use them to hold the oil we are dependent upon hostage.  Many European nations now fear being associated with the United States, afraid that their affiliation with us will disrupt their flow of oil from Iraq and open them up to terrorist activity.  Finally, we fear further terrorism with in our borders. In the end all of this fear is leading us to decisions no one is happy with, while we isolate ourselves from each other. 

It easy to let our fears overtake our lives, during World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt addressing a country embroiled in war told his people to “remember the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”  This statement remains as true for us today, because it is only fear, our own personal and collective fears that can separate us from the love of God and each other.  And that is why our Bishops remind us, and Christ tells us, to love,  for the love of God that works through each of us can overcome the greatest of fears, if we are willing to trust. 

Pierre Whalon, the Episcopal Bishop to the American Churches in Europe learned first hand how powerful God’s love can be during his trip to Iraq last month.  The Living Church reported Bishop Whalon’s trip.  In the article Bishop Whalon stated while in Iraq, the leaders of the 1.2 million Christians living there, talked about their fears of immanent war.  How their people feared that the American would view all Iraqi Christians as supporters of Hussein because one of Saddam’s top advisors, Turq Aziz happens to be Christian.  Whalon said the Churches want us to know they are not 1.2 million supporters of Hussein.  It was not, however, hearing the Churches’ leaders fears that moved Whalen most, instead it was the encounter he had at the airport just before he left the country. In the article he states, “The most overwhelming moment occurred upon my departure at Saddam Hussein International Airport.  When an airport cashier recognized me as the American bishop she had seen on Iraqi Television the night before, she became very emotional.  She asked for my blessing, she asked for my autograph, and she explained that an American bishop coming to Iraq to pray for peace really strengthened her faith, and that maybe this war could be avoided.  Then she grabbed my hand again and kissed my ring again.  I had to sit down, I was so overwhelmed.” 

Loving our neighbors as ourselves is the most powerful resource we have for making peace.  So often we forget how powerful the act of loving another truly is.  We forget that while military force may oust an evil despot and bring stability to an unstable situation, brute strength does not and cannot bring peace.  It does not melt down the walls of fear and anger.  Only love and compassion can break down the walls of hatred.  Only vulnerability can build trust. 

On September 11, 2001, a Franciscan Friar known as Brother Michael was spending his internship year in Egypt working at a Lepers colony.  He had chosen this assignment because prior to his joining the Order of Friars Minor, he had worked as an Egyptologist.  On the morning of September 11^th, he was one of very few Americans working at the leprosarium. When the news of the attacks was announced on local radio and television, an Egyptian nurse began to dance and celebrate in the halls.  Michael stopped her and asked her why she found such joy in the 9/11 attacks.  She told him simply that she was happy that such a fate had fallen upon America.  He then explained to her that he was an American and how saddened he was by the attack and loss of life.  Later that afternoon, Michael went into the kitchen to make a cup of tea.  Knowing that the offering of a cup of tea symbolized hospitality and friendship in the Egyptian culture, Brother Michael made two cups of tea and offered the second to the nurse who had celebrated the events of 9/11.  No words were spoken, just the simple act of offering a cup of tea transpired.  That night, the Franciscans opened their church doors to offer all an opportunity to pray for the victims of 9/11 and the world.  As Brother Michael looked out into the congregation, he saw the same nurse and many from her village weeping as they joined together in prayer. 

This morning our Bishops remind us that the greatest resource we have in fighting the evil of this world is to do the very thing that we often find hardest when we are afraid, to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Amen

 Return To The Sermons Page