I had a revelation during a sleepless night in a cold Russian hotel room. The subject was a narrow doorway. In a foreign country, doorways can be treacherous. Some doorways contain thieves waiting to pounce on unsuspecting tourists. Others lead to wrong corridors and offer the visitor the unwanted opportunity to get lost. It's best to stick with the crowd and use the entrances that many people go through. Yet, in the Russian hotel where we were staying, the best way in was a side door. The main entrance was lined with people who preyed upon guests. We were told to enter through the side where the locals and workers entered. It was a dark and rather scary doorway, in a post-Soviet grey cement with shadows kind of way, but it let us safely into the hotel.
When the revelation came, I saw a large gold-lined promenade. The path was straight, bright and full of travelers. But I could see what they couldn't see, that around the corner there was a straight drop off into a dark cavern. The travelers could only see the abyss after it was too late. The crush of people behind them made it impossible to turn around; they were doomed to fall. It was like a conveyer belt of contented people who suddenly fell unaware into oblivion. There was also a side street to the golden boulevard but it was hard to find. The entrance was framed with wood and big enough for only one person to pass through at a time. Unlike the golden walkway, this path was rutty, went slightly uphill, and had lots of turns. Less than one of every ten people took that path. Even though they couldn't see around each bend, those smiling and hope filled travelers had learned to walk slowly to find their way. Christi and I were on that narrow path. It represented our adoption experience. We entered into adopting older children - a path very few take - and were in Russia to complete the process and take our girls home. We didn't know what was waiting for us behind each turn in our path, but we knew we would be okay if we faced the future together. When the revelation was over, this Scripture passage echoed in my head, "Jesus said, 'Go in through the narrow gate. The gate that leads to destruction is broad and the road wide, so many people enter through it. But the gate that leads to life is narrow and the road difficult, so few people find it.'" Perhaps you are reading this right now also having entered through one of those two gates. Many folks in the Church have been on paths to destruction when somehow the Grace of God showed them a different way. Saint John's is also traveling on a narrow path. We can't see what is around the next corner, but we know that God's grace is with us and that if we approach the future together we will be okay. - Fr. Dave The Marshall family has taken on a project. We are fostering a baby kitten. It all started one quiet night when I received texted photos of a helpless little kitten. The poor animal had been left by its mother and one of our parishioners was caring for it. Unfortunately, the other animals in her household didn’t accept the little kitten. Either someone needed to care for it or it was going to the shelter.
The kitten looks like a baby version of our much-beloved cat, Pancake; and, we’re suckers, so, we took the kitten in. None of us have ever raised a kitten who was four weeks old. She/he (it’s hard to tell at this age) is completely dependent upon Ethan and Christi. She needs milk fed from a dropper. She can’t clean herself or even go to the bathroom on her own without some encouragement. Now, a week later, she’s starting to eat wet food out of a dish and is well on her way to be cat box trained. Although she usually sleeps through the night, she wakes Ethan up around 6:30 every morning. This little kitten lives for the moment. She walks right off the side of the couch and loves to see what tight fit she can get into – under a chair, between a bookcase, under books. Once she is stuck she will emit a very loud “meeuuuww,” until she is rescued. This animal has no idea where her next meal is coming from, what would happen if she fell off the couch, or whether we will return home when we leave. Yet, she has the same bright optimism for life. She keeps doing what kittens do – meowing, eating, sleeping, playing and being just as cute as cute can be. This cat lives in the present without any fear of the future or remorse from the past. I wonder if this is how we look to God. Or maybe, this is the life that Jesus calls us to – complete dependence upon God. Jesus calls us to live in the moment. He also tells us to have no fear and to not dwell on the past. There have been times in my life when, like this kitten, I walk unknowingly toward the end of the couch. Yet, God always steps in to redirect me. I’d like to think the food I eat is a result of my work and the ability to purchase it. Yet, I am reminded that all of it – my work, finances, food – belongs to, and is a blessing from, God. Likewise, our church has no rainy day fund. We have no reserve. We live month to month on the blessings that everyone provides through their faithful giving. At the beginning of this Reflection, I said we are fostering the cat. The plan was to get it strong enough for someone else to adopt. Plus, we have two cats – Oscar the dominant one and Pancake the ambivalent one. Despite his title, Pancake is interested in the kitten and will occasionally clean it. Oscar, however, has yet to meet the cute ball of fur. He smells it, hears it, but as of yet, has not been whisker to whisker. It’s a long process. Luckily, Oscar seems to be living in the moment too and doesn’t seem to have any fear of the future, nor any remorse of the past. Nevertheless, feel free to place your bets on whether the Marshall household will be back down to two cats or whether we will have three. After all, we do our best and know that it’s all up to God. -Fr. Marshall In last Sunday’s sermon, I pointed out that Saint Paul gave the new church leader, Timothy, some advice. It was to pray. And first to pray for kings and all in high places. (1 Tim 2:2) Why in the world would Paul tell Timothy to pray for those responsible for persecuting the Church and who would eventually snuff out both their lives? Perhaps it is because Jesus instructs us to, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you.” (Mt 5:44) And in his letter to the church in Rome, Paul wrote, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” (12:14) One day I hope to get the opportunity to ask Jesus and Paul why they told us to do this. In the meantime, I can tell you how to pray for your enemies.
There are three parts to every formal prayer in our Prayer Book. The first part names God and what God does. The second part is to ask. The third is to close the prayer in Jesus’ name. Part one. If you wanted to ask your mother for cookies, you probably wouldn’t just yell from the living room, “Get me some cookies!” Instead, a wise child seeks her out and says, “Mother dear, who makes the best cookies in the world…” Likewise, we get God’s attention by using one of God’s many names/titles and what God does. When praying for one’s enemies, a suitable opening might be, “Almighty God, who calls on your faithful people to bless and pray, even for our enemies…” Part two – the ask. Continuing with cookies, “Mother dear, who makes the best cookies in the world, I’d like a cookie, please, because cookies make me happy…” In the prayer for our enemies, the ask could be, “You sent your Son to bring those who are near and those who are far off, well, this guy at work must be one of the ‘far off’ because he constantly undermines me, takes credit for things he didn’t do, and blames me for his mistakes. I am so sick of him I want to quit, but you told me to be faithful and trust in you. So, please do something about this because I can’t; in fact, I’d rather key his car.” Part three – in the name of Jesus. He told us to ask for whatever we need in his name. Thus, in your prayer for your enemy, it would end “… I’d rather key his car, but I ask that you bless him and turn him from his bad ways, in the name of Jesus my Lord.” In all sincerity, I had been praying for the conversion of Osama Bin Laden’s heart. I wanted him to have a Paul-like conversion and for him to then tell his followers that he was following Jesus and would walk in the path of peace and contrition for the rest of his life. I recently prayed for the guy who set the bombs in New York and New Jersey – for justice, for peace, and for him to become a living example of repentance. I can also tell you in all sincerity that these prayers actually brought me peace and stillness. You see, when we turn our enemies over to Jesus, we know that vengeance is his, that he, and only he, has the power to change hearts, and that his mercy is wide, his understanding is deep, and his grace is really and truly for everyone. -Fr. Marshall I preached a sermon several weeks ago about body image and how God sees us. Since then, the sermon has been quoted back to me by many people. At their request, I'm writing about it so it can be shared with a larger audience.
Psalm 139 uses poetic imagery to show how we were knit together in the womb. The psalmist declares to God, "I praise you because I am remarkably and wonderfully made; your works are magnificent, I know that full well." (vs 14) I think it is God's hope and expectation that each of us praise God because we know that God's works are magnificent and that we are wonderfully made. There is a problem, an entire multi-media industry is at war with the psalmist's declaration. As a father of two girls and the chaplain of a school, I can tell you from experience that magazines, television, and movies are trying to convince our girls that there is one beautiful body type. And, if you don't have that body type, you are not beautiful. Also, if you are not actively working towards becoming that type, you are lazy and prone to an early death that you most certainly deserve. It's not just girls that are caught up in this. Boys are inundated with negative self-images as well. I was shocked at the action hero plastic toy Elijah held in his hand at the store. It was Superman and reminded me of the action figure I had when I was six. Forty years later, however, it is clear that Superman has been to the gym and has been taking substances that would get him banned from professional sports. His biceps and pectoral muscles are extraordinarily gigantic and so are his legs. His waist has shrunk and his unnatural stomach is what they call "cut." What does this image say to our boys about being super? The Chinese used to wrap the feet of girls to keep them smaller. I'd like to think that we've moved beyond that but in reality, we probably have not. Instead, we wrap our minds to feel guilty about how we look in the mirror. Many cage themselves in with unrealistic expectations and unhealthy dietary habits. But, that is not what God has in mind for us. Jesus wants us to be free. We are beautifully made. Each body is different and magnificent because God made us that way. There are more than 2,700 different types of earthworms. Earthworms! If God loves diversity that much in worms, would he have in mind only one body type that is beautiful? Some people can eat what they want and never gain weight, others not so much. Yet, God never ever considers one better, or more beautiful, than the other. We are all precious in the sight of the Lord. I am reminded of a breast cancer survivor who, at the advice of her doctor, forced herself to stand unclothed in front of a mirror every day and tell herself that she is beautifully and wonderfully made. This action freed her up for unhealthy expectations of the perfect body. She was able to go back to work and to have a social life again. You are God's work. God makes things beautiful and wonderful. You are made in God's image which is unique and diverse just to you. You are wonderfully made. -Fr. Marshall It’s time to settle a long-standing question. What does it mean when we say, “We believe in one holy catholic apostolic church.” Specifically, why does the word “catholic” appear in the Nicene Creed and why is it said in an Episcopal church?
The short answer is this – “catholic” doesn’t mean what you probably think it means. The catechism or teaching of the church (page 854 in the Book of Common Prayer) asks, Why is the Church described as catholic? The answer: “The Church is catholic, because it proclaims the whole Faith to all people, to the end of time.” As much as I appreciate and love the catechism, this is not a full-enough answer for me. The Nicene Creed was written in Greek. The Greek word translated into English as “catholic” is καθολικὴν. It is not found in the Greek New Testament (I checked, ugh). The word has two meanings, general or universal. In English, the non-military sense of word “general” is found only once in the New Testament. It is in the Letter to the Hebrews talking about the “general gathering” of people. Universal in not found in any English Bible that I could find. Suffice it to say that catholic is a post-Biblical word and concept. Before I go on, I should say that others would disagree with me and assert that catholic is a Biblical word. They claim the source is Acts 9:31. There are two Greek words that if combined can make it sound like cath-holic. Nevertheless, every single reputable English translation does not combine the two words but rather keeps them separate so the text reads, “Meanwhile, the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samara had peace and was built up.” This author believes is it more than a stretch to say that “throughout” is synonymous with “general” or “universal.” So why is it in the Nicene Creed and why do we “believe it” every Sunday? What are we believing in anyway? Let’s assume the New Testament was completed by the year 80. The early Church was a movement mighty in power but quite small in relative size. Even with Peter baptizing thousands in one day it was still, percentage wise, tiny when compared with the Roman Empire. However, by the time the Nicene Creed was written around 325, the movement had grown into what we would recognize as a capital “c” Church. It stretched across the entire empire and even into the emperor’s own household. It was now the “general” Church or “universal” Church; the catholic Church. The problem is there was a reason why the creed had to be written. The universal Church didn’t agree on basic tenets of the faith. The creed was an attempt to bring the general Church together. Thus, by using catholic/general/universal as a belief, it was in a sense saying, “We’re orthodox believers.” The split of the general Church into East and West in 1054 also changed the linguistic approach to self-define our separate self-governing body of believers. The eastern Christians referred to themselves as orthodox and the western Christians took the name Catholic. And we in the Episcopal Church are somewhere in the middle. Nearly 1,000 years later, the labels still exist. Yet, these are only labels. The truth is the general Church still believes in one God who created all things, seen and unseen. We are still united in our belief that Jesus, born of Mary, is the Son of God. He died, rose, ascended and will return again. We believe in the Lord, the Holy Spirit who is the giver of life and who is worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son. And, we believe the one general/universal/catholic/orthodox Church is holy. Despite the grandiose language of the Nicene Creed, I believe we are still a movement. It’s a large, universal movement of people following Jesus with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. This movement is baptizing thousands per week in China and India. The Jesus Movement is still transforming souls in this world for God’s coming Kingdom. I think this is something we can all stand for and profess our belief in. -Fr. Marshall I don’t often write follow up Reflections, but the number of comments I received on my last one about vacations moved me to do so.
Last week I wrote about our recent family vacation. I asked if it really is a vacation when it is with the family. It was a humorous assertion but it does have a slight bit of truth to it. That is, although it may not be the put-your-toes-in-the-sand and relax type of vacation, it was nevertheless a highlight of my year and my life. The centerpiece of difficulty – sharing a queen size bed with my active 6-year old whom I nicknamed Sir-kicks-a-lot – is, perhaps paradoxically, the center of precious memory, too. As a result of that column, many people shared their favorite vacation stories with me. Some of these folks have been on very nice, empty-nester, vacations. Yet, when recalling their favorite vacation memories, they don’t mention the trips to France, the Mediterranean, or European river cruises. They talk about being stranded in Yellowstone with a flat tire and screaming kids during a lightning storm. I heard stories about sharing beds with children and finding themselves sleeping on the floor with only a bath towel for a blanket. I have a friend who had to sleep on a hammock strung across the two front seats of his family’s camper. Others had to fold down the rickety kitchen table of their travel trailer so their kids could sleep on lumpy cushions. My parents reminded me of our trip from Tacoma to Denver. The day we left, the starter on our VW van went out. We had to push-start the van during the entire trip. To this day I can push start any vehicle that has a manual clutch. These are the vacation memories that we hold onto. And I got to share in many such memories just because I wrote an honest column about the ups and downs of family time together. This view on family vacations has given me new insight into reading the Bible. What if each story of the Bible is like someone remembering their family vacations. We don’t hear about the times that Jesus walked into a town and everything went smoothly. Or the places where Saint Paul didn’t get arrested for proclaiming Christ crucified. The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. But, we don’t hear about the times they got along or what the sunset looked like. One of the most remembered stories of Jesus is when he calmed a storm. The disciples were in fear of sinking the boat and drowning while Jesus slept. They woke him up, he calmed the storm, and then asked where their faith was. They made a lot of boat trips but we only hear of the family-vacation type events. I imagine that years later, they’d say, “Hey, do you remember when we left Jesus and then he had to walk on water to catch up to us?” Yup, the family vacations with the flat tires, broken starters, and kids in bed who kick. And since we Christians are a family of sorts it all makes sense. Fr. Tolley shared stories with me on Sunday afternoon. With a twinkle in his eye, he told me that in twenty years from now, I’d probably give anything to go back to the vacation where I had to share a bed with Sir-kicks-a-lot. I’ll bet my friend would love to go back to the time he had to sleep across the front seats of their camper. I yearn to go back to my teenage years for one more sailing trip with my Dad. Years after Jesus’ ascension into heaven, I imagine the apostles yearned for the boat trip when Jesus calmed the storm. We seem to know only in retrospect there’s nothing better than family trips. -Fr. Marshall I recently took a week of vacation. My in-laws rented a house in the small town of La Mission which is at the 65 kilometer marker between Rosarito and Ensenada, Baja Mexico. The house was big enough to house nine people – the Marshall’s, Christi’s parents, and our 25-year old daughter, Victoria, and her husband and almost-4-year-old son who were visiting from Miami. Situated on the beach, the living room had sliding glass walls that opened up to the entire expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
This past Sunday I was asked if it truly is a vacation if you travel with your family or is it the same stuff with a better view. In typical Anglican fashion, I answered, “Yes and no.” No in the sense that the Marshalls' sleeping quarters consisted of two queen size beds. This meant I got to share a bed with Sir-kicks-a-lot, our 6-year old, who decided to wake me up every morning just after dawn. And no, we still had food prep, cleaning, refereeing, entertaining and everything else that goes with parenting and grand-parenting. And also “no” because Mexico brings its own charms and pitfalls. We had to be vigilant with drinking water, there was no lifeguard at the beach, there is a language and culture barrier, and we frankly missed the ease of simply going to the store if we needed something. But then there is a “yes” side to that question. Yes, it was a vacation. I got some down time. I spent a whole bunch of time with my family. Literally, I was side-by-side with Elijah for a majority of the 24 hours of each day – including 8 hours at night. Christi and I got an evening where we just listened to the surf as the sun set. I got to connect with my daughter and to grow closer to my son-in-law and grandson. And, I had the joy of watching my in-laws enjoy spending quality time with their grandchildren and great-grandchild. A vacation highlight was Sunday morning. By the time others were awake, I already had my wetsuit on. I grabbed my boogie board and headed out into the surf. It felt like I had the entire ocean to myself. Because it was early and foggy, I didn’t need a hat, sunglasses or even sun screen. As I stepped onto the wet sand, I said aloud, “Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall proclaim your praise. Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…” I recited Morning Prayer while getting used to the cold water. I was knee deep by the time I recited Psalm 95 and waist deep by the time I recalled the Gospel lesson. I said the confession (and offered my own absolution) by the time I was chest deep, and I said the Apostles Creed while riding a giant six-foot wave onto the beach. I sang a hymn while diving under waves waiting for the right one to ride. I said the Lord’s Prayer while riding one of the best waves in my life and said my prayers while lying in three inches of saltwater sprawled out on the beach. And then, while riding another monster wave, I prayed, “You have promised that when two or three are gathered together in his Name; or just me on this beach with you; God will be with us…” This was one of my most holy experiences of the year. At that moment, I tasted saltwater and toothpaste in my mouth. I thought that is what vacation tastes like – saltwater and toothpaste; thanks be to God! Was it a vacation? Yes. In the years to come, I will cherish spending precious time with my wife and family, Morning Prayer on the beach and frankly, having to share a bed with Sir-kicks-a-lot. To me, that is what vacation is all about. -Fr. Marshall There is a test that anyone seeking ordination must go through, the General Ordination Exam, or GOE for short. I have alternative names for this test, but they’re not suitable to print. The GOE consists of seven categories, each with a three sentence question requiring 1000 words to answer. A grab-bag question is thrown in which clergy call the Coffee Hour question because it is one a parishioner might ask – assuming they wouldn’t be inclined to ask about how one 12th century theologian (that no one has ever heard of) disagrees with a 10th century theologian (that no one has ever heard of). The Coffee Hour question the year I took the GOE was something like this, “You are at the hospice bedside of a stranger. The patient’s sister, who hasn’t spoken to the patient in 20 years, walks into the room. What do you say?”
Here is a famous Coffee Hour question from years ago: “A parishioner walks up to you after services. She is upset that her dog has died. She asks you, ‘Is my dog in heaven?’ What do you say?” The bottom line is that no one, ordained or not, knows the answer to the who-is-in-heaven question so the best answer is run away as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the advice to run has not been heeded by all in my vocation. I have spoken with folks who claim that ordained persons have said that animals are not in heaven. In fact, at each church that I have served I have been asked this question. To those who say animals are not in heaven, I assert that St. Francis might disagree. A 13th century theologian, St. Francis was fond of animals and of God’s creation. The main emphasis of his ministry was to proclaim the Kingdom of God. He believed that God’s beautiful creation was created good but was then marred by human sin. Yet, the vocation of all beings – both “man and beast” – was to praise God. It is believed that Francis also preached to birds and that they’d lovingly listen to his voice. Using reason and faith together, I wonder why a great and devoted man of God would spend time preaching to animals if they were not a part of God’s eternal kingdom. After all, Scripture shows us that all beings in heaven are continually in praise of God. There are winged creatures in heaven, apparently. And, at the end of the last book of the Bible, the Book of Revelation, there is a river, a tree, fruit and a restored kingdom where both heaven and earth meet. It is like a reestablished Garden of Eden. Would God plant a tree and have a river if there were no animals? Would it really be Eden if there were only humans? Experience shows us that our pets bring us closer to God by showing the grace and nature of our shared creator. How many times has a pet lifted your spirits or comforted you? How fast does your pet forgive you when you come home late or accidentally step on its tail. Are these not in fact reflections of God and of the eternal created order? Why would God create a heaven where our beloved animal family members could not exist. So, to my brothers and sisters of the cloth who think that animals are not in heaven, I invite you to take it up with St. Francis first and then answer your parishioner. Or, perhaps, just run away as quickly as possible. -Fr. Marshall It’s been said that the Bible quotes our prayer book nicely. Truth be told, the Bible was written way before the Book of Common Prayer but the two do complement each other well. Someone has figured out that 80% of the prayer book consists of direct quotes from Scripture. In fact, our Eucharistic prayer this Sunday at 10 a.m. will use this phrase, “In the fullness of time, put all things in subjection under your Christ and bring us to that heavenly country…” This prayer alludes to Galatians 4:4, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman.” And, the prayer is also from Ephesians, “As a plan for the fullness of time to gather up all things in him.” (1:10) It appears there are two times of fulfillment – the first is when Jesus was born; the second is when Christ gathers all things to himself. Our Eucharistic prayer encapsulates both times-fullness.
When Jesus was born, there was a convergence of events, technologies, and social and political realities that made it to be a times-fullness. Pax Romana was the law of the land in the 1st century so that Jesus and his followers could travel throughout the empire with relative ease. The mail delivery system was intricate and dependable. Alexander the Great made Greek known throughout the contemporary world. There were more people of the Jewish faith living outside of Israel (Palestine) than in it. The empire was polytheistic and tolerated many diverse forms of worship. Rome made an incredible system of roads and seafaring throughout the Mediterranean was unparalleled as far as ease, frequency and reliability. During the earthly days of Jesus, taxation was squeezing farmers off their land who were then forced to seek employment in the cities. And, polytheism was being questioned in the hearts and minds of many citizens. They were seeking a different divine relationship – not just of goods, services, protection and wealth. They were seeking peace and health which fell on deaf ears no matter what idol they turned to. It was in this fullness of time that Jesus was born of Mary to redeem those who were born under the law of Moses and to receive everyone else through adoption of God’s grace to make them heirs to God’s Kingdom. (Gal 4:4-7) Shortly afterwards, Rome fell and with it came the destruction of free travel, mail delivery, free trade, common language, metropolitan infrastructure, and polytheistic tolerance. It wasn’t until the 18th century that roads, sea lanes, mail and cities came near their pinnacle in the 1st century. It appears that God arrived right on time. The second “fullness of time” is when Christ will gather all things to himself, when all things will respond to God’s call through Christ. That time has not yet been fulfilled. But, take heart, it is coming. Once again, we are in a time when people are leaving the farm and cramming into cities throughout the world. English has become the main communication form of international business. There are more Christians living outside of Israel (and Europe and America too). We are in a time of unprecedented electronic communication. And, perhaps most importantly, the wealth of the nations has created an impoverished soul. We have gained luxuries and can enjoy Dragon Fruit from Vietnam, lamb from Australia, wine from France, beer from Germany, chocolate from anywhere, yet we have never been more hungry. We have created the most powerful weapons ever conceived, we can see at night, listen underwater, and fly planes with satellites yet peace has never seemed so far away. Could it be that we are now living in the fullness of time when Christ gathers all things to himself. My God, I sure hope so. One thing I do know is that God will arrive on time. -Fr. Marshall At a recent Bible study class, I was asked if, since “begotten son” is the one-and-only son of God, is it a false belief that we are children of God? No, certainly not. We are children of God through Christ. The well-known Nicaean statement, “We believe in Jesus Christ, the only Son of God,” is not intended to suggest we are not children of God. Instead, it points out that we cannot become as Jesus is but the good news is that through adoption/faith we can become children and heirs of God’s promise through Jesus.
If you are wondering why I wrote “adoption/faith” it is because the Greek word for son can be translated into adoption or faith. Believe it or not, being adopted and having faith, in a Greek sense, is the same word. The New Testament and the Nicene Creed were written in Greek. The Greek word used for “son” is “vios” pronounced as “h-wee-os.” Vios is not a simple word. It has two main definitions 1) a male who is in a kinship relationship either biologically or by legal action and. 2) a person related or closely associated as if by ties of son-ship. The first definition – biological or legal action – has four subsets a) the direct male issue of a person, b) … of an animal, c) descended son, d) accepted or legally adopted as a son. Letter “d” caught my attention. There is no clear proof that “Son of God” was ever used to describe the Messiah prior to Christianity. Before Jesus, however, some polytheistic (multi-god) believers claimed to be sons of God like Caesar Augustus, wise philosophers like Pythagoras, and also wonder-workers. These men claimed son-ship based on letter “d.” But, none of them claimed to be the Messiah. In Psalm 2, written around 1,000 years before Jesus was born, the attributed author, King David, wrote “I will tell the decree of the Lord: He said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.’” The intention here was not that David is God’s son; rather, God revealed to David that the Messiah would be. Mary – a descendant of David – was told her child would be called the son of the Most High and be given the throne of David. (Luke 1.32) When Jesus was baptized, those in attendance saw the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus and heard directly from God, “You are my son, the beloved, with you I am well pleased.” Jesus was thus set apart from others who claimed divinity/son-ship with God. Jesus was both the Messiah and the one-and-only son of God. But what does this say about the rest of us who have been promised that if we believe in Jesus we too will be daughters and sons of God? Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.” (Mt 5:9) He tells us to love our enemies so that we may be children of the Father. (Mt 5:45) John, our church’s namesake, wrote, “All who receive Jesus, who believe in his name, he gave power to become children of God” (Jn 1.12). There are many other Scriptures that state believers are called children of God. The point is that the two examples of vios are by legal action – adoption, and by close association – actions. (If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck…) As such, we are children of God because of our ties, belief, and action in Christ. Jesus left us two things, the water of baptism and the celebration of communion. Through our baptism and the receiving of Jesus’ body and blood, we are legal descendants, adopted, individual members of a large group, and identify with God through Christ. Because of this, rest assured, we are God’s children. -Fr. Marshall |