FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Year A—24 April 2005
The Rev. Ralph Carskadden

There is a new bishop in Rome – elected not by the laity and clergy of the diocese of Rome but by a select group of mostly elderly white men the vast majority of whom are not residents of the diocese. Things were different in the first 1,000 years of the Christian era. But during the second millennium the power of the Roman pontiff greatly increased. During the past quarter century, under the leadership of John Paul II the centralization of the Church of Rome has been phenomenal. Added to that has been the extensive use of the media and the growth of communication, which, together with his unprecedented schedule of papal travel, led to John Paul II being the most seen and recognizable human on the planet.

Who would succeed him and thus come to hold the reigns of such power and influence was a major question among not only Roman Catholics but also other people of faith. For many women marginalized by their church; for those who believe more and healthier vocations to the priesthood could benefit from allowing clergy to marry; for gay and lesbian persons who long for inclusion rather than exclusion from their spiritual home; the choice of the next pope was a major concern. Most of those people, I think, believed the least helpful candidate was Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany, known as the “Rottweiler” among many of his countrymen. In the news coverage of the conclave commentators quoted the old saying, “He who enters the conclave as a pope, leaves as a cardinal”. And I for one took comfort thinking that the most obvious choice was unlikely to be elected.

But this past week, in short order, Cardinal Ratzinger was elected. One Italian newspaper carried the headline “German Shepherd”. A news release from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force describes the new Bishop of Rome as “a man whose record has been one of unrelenting venomous hatred of gay people.” Certainly no one expects his pontificate to be marked by any radical change.

But, before we jump to conclusions let us reflect on the story of the patron saint of this parish, Saul of Tarsus the Jewish Pharisee. He was a legalist of the highest order. On the Myers Briggs personality test he must have been a major “J”. His was a tightly structured world view of right and wrong and he knew religious law and scripture to support his opinions and beliefs and to justify his actions. When we initially meet him, in chapter 7 of the Acts of the Apostles, the first reading this morning, he seems somewhat passive. At the stoning of Stephen Saul just held everyone else’s coat so they would be free to throw rocks. After the mob of righteous folks had killed Stephen we read that “Saul approved of their killing him. That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. Devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church by entering house after house; dragging off both men and women, he committed them to prison.” Saul next appears in chapter 9 of the book of Acts which begins: “Meanwhile Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”

This is the background of the man after whom your parish was named. His statue stands here. As we read on in chapter 9 of Acts we hear the wonderful story of Saul’s conversion and name change. We read how he experienced his own blindness and how, through the work of God and the compassionate ministry of those he had persecuted Paul’s heart and mind were changed and he came to have a new vision, to see as God sees, and himself became a follower of the Way, a disciple of Jesus. It is Paul who became an apostle to outsiders, a supporter of the inclusion of gentiles, non Jews, in the early Christian Church. It is Paul who was finally executed in Rome for his Christian faith. From legalistic venomous persecutor to apostle and martyr – Paul gives us a model for conversion, transformation, and change. Your deacon, Richard gave an excellent summary of the fruits of Paul ministry in his sermon this past January on your Patronal Feast. Reread that sermon on your website and be encouraged and inspired.

Perhaps the God who changed Saul is at work in a certain bishop in Rome! In scripture the change of name signifies major changes in belief and action. Perhaps Benedict XVI’s change in name and vocation will lead to new understanding and the Spirit will lead him and his Church in unexpected directions. Pray for the Bishop of Rome.

            But it would be easy for us to follow the media lead and keep focused on Benedict. Today’s second scripture reading, the First letter of Peter, a homily or instruction to the newly baptized invites us to focus on the radical changes in name and status which we ourselves have experienced. As baptized members of Christ’s body, we are now God’s people; we have now become recipients of mercy. We are, as the author of 1 Peter instructed the newly baptized and instructs us today, “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that (we) may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called (us) out of darkness into his marvelous light.” That identity, my friends, no bishop or prince, no cardinal or pontiff can take from us. The questions that come to us today are not “what does Benedict XVI think of us” or “what will he do?”. The real questions are: do we recognize and claim who and whose we are, and are we living into our vocations as members of the holy, royal, priestly, people of God?

            Those questions invite us to examine our lives, our actions – are we like pre-conversion Saul in collusion with prejudice, hatred, violence either by our own comfortable ignorance or our silence, or by direct actions, or by “holding the coats” of others who act on our behalf? Or are we like post conversion Paul with dreams and visions? Dreams of a just society, a welcoming and inclusive church, a diverse and richly varied civic life, a world at peace, a creation faithfully conserved! I sense that in the person of Mother Melissa your new rector, you have chosen someone who indeed shares Paul’s passion for inclusion – and I have seen your creative newspaper ads and the beautiful centennial garden, signs of your desire to welcome and reach out beyond the doors of this building. Over the years you have become increasingly intentional about living your faith. Through prayer and outreach, through study and formation, you are, “like living stones, being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”. He is the one who is “the way, and the truth, and the life” and he beckons us to follow him ever further in faith and in service to others. For the timid or frightened he speaks words of comfort: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places.” Indeed! Many dwelling places, room for all. And of this we are called to be witnesses.

A Franciscan Blessing

May God bless you with discomfort
at easy answers, half truths, and
superficial relationships, so that you
may live deep within your heart. 

May God bless you with anger at
injustice, oppression, and
exploitation of people, so that you
may work for justice, freedom and peace. 

May God bless you with tears to
shed for those who suffer from
pain, rejection, starvation, and war,
so that you may reach out your
hand to comfort them and to turn
their pain into joy. 

And may God bless you with
enough foolishness to believe that
you can make a difference in this world,
so that you can do
what others claim cannot be done.