In the name of our loving, life-giving God, who loves each and every one of us of more than we can comprehend; who loves us for who we are in spite of what we've done or left undone - In the name of Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. + Amen.
On this Fourth of July weekend, I want to spend some time talking about our heritage both as a nation and as a congregation. I want to continue with where I left off last Sunday, where Jesus told a would-be follower and disciple who wanted to say goodbye to his family before heading out that " One who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is not worthy of the Kingdom of God" - seemingly harsh words coming from Jesus, but important ones for us to pay attention to.
For the past several Sundays we've been hearing about Elijah. I want to talk about Elijah and Elisha. There is so much I'd like to say about Elijah - what an interesting prophet. If you recall last Sunday's first lesson was about Elijah ascending into heaven. You know the story - how Elijah was caught up by a fiery chariot and how his disciple, Elisha said, "Father give me a portion of your prophetic abilities. And Elijah said something like, "If you see me taken up, you will know that what you have asked for will be yours." And then Elisha sees Elijah ascend in that fiery chariot and Elijah throws his cloak, his mantle to Elisha who tears his own clothes, puts on Elijah's cloak and picks up where Elijah left off, as we heard in today's first reading.
A heritage is like Elijah's mantle, something tossed to us, something to carry on; as in continuing to do likewise. One of our members informed me that last Sunday, June 30th was the one hundred fifty-ninth anniversary date of the first Episcopal service held in what would become the Dakota Territory. You talk about putting your hand to the plow and not looking back. Bishop Joseph Talbot and Fr. Melancthon Hoyt took off from Sioux City (Iowa) to minister to settlements along the Missouri river as far as Fort Randall.
The first Episcopal service held in Yankton was at the Frost, Todd & Company Trading Post. A year later, Fr. Hoyt would return to Yankton and establish this parish, being this congregation's first priest. Bishop Talbot and Fr. Hoyt picked up the mantle of the apostles and continued their work. The heritage left by Talbot and Hoyt and those who established this congregation and built this church is a mantle tossed to us to carry on and build upon the ministry of this congregation, a mantle given to the Church by Christ to go out into the world and spread the Good News.
This past Thursday our nation celebrated its two hundred forty-third birthday, the signing of The Declaration of Independence. It was a bold and prophetic statement, penned by Thomas Jefferson. It established a premise that is universal in its scope and applicable to people everywhere, "...all men (all people) are created equal and endowed by their creator with inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."
It was on this untested, yet unfulfilled, aspirational premise that this great nation of ours was launched. It is what made this nation a beacon to the rest of the world. It is what has drawn people to our shores, and it is what brings people to our borders as I speak. It is a mantle that was tossed to us, a mantle tossed to all those who seek liberty and freedom.
For me, the most important document, the most important mantle of heritage that remains as an aspiration and a responsibility to carry on was written and ratified thirteen years later, the Preamble of the Constitution:
"We the People of The United States of America, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessing of liberty for ourselves and our posterity do ordain and establish the Constitution of the United States of America."
This preamble is both a mantle and a lens by which to measure how we as the people of this nation are doing. It is what I personally use to discern how well our elected and appointed officials are doing:
Are we, through them, establishing justice? And by justice, our forefathers weren't talking about punishment, but rather were referencing the Hebrew prophets who advocated for the poor, the oppressed, and those unable to support themselves.
Are we, through them, insuring domestic tranquillity? Are we, through them, keeping the public square safe?
Are we, through them, providing for the common defence?
Are we, through them, promoting the general welfare?
Are we, through them, securing the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity?
Our founding fathers struggled in establishing this nation. They acted out of faith and hope. They put their hand to the plow and didn't look back.
They established the framework by which "our democracy" functions, The Constitution, that great distillery by which the will of people is derived and discerned from the mash of our collective voices.
It is so easy to take the blessings of liberty for granted. None of us present today have known a life without them, but many in this world have never experienced what we have. But what we have is not a gift but rather a mantle tossed to us by those who came before us. Freedom is not to be taken lightly. St. Paul described freedom prophetically in last Sunday's second lesson when he wrote to the Galatians:
For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence,but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. (Galatians 5:13-15)
Amen.
* * * * * * * * * *
Until next time, stay faithful.
Norm
No comments:
Post a Comment