A PARISH IN THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF SPRINGFIELD

sermon
This sermon was given at Trinity, Mt. Vernon, Illinois on Sunday, June 20, 2010.
The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 7)
Fr. Malottke was Rector at Trinity 1959-1962.

“Who do the people say that I am?

This was a pivotal question that our Lord posed to his disciples. And he followed it up by extending it to a most personal level: “But who do you say that I am?” And we can glibly respond in St. Peter’s words: You are “The Christ of God.” But to a people immersed in scripture, there would be a certain undertone to these specific words. How so?

Remember when Moses received his call – his vocation—from God? He said that he needed authentication that he truly was sent from, and speaking for, God. “Tell me your name,” he said.

(Incidentally, Mike Nichols years ago created a comedy sketch based on our American obsession with first-naming everyone, thus implying that we are close to people, particularly prominent people.)

Well, God responded to Moses by saying, “Tell the people that ‘I AM’ sent you.” “Who do the people say that I am?” “Who do you say that I am?”

Who are you? There’s a provocative question. My Carla is a cradle Episcopalian. Father Moehle made certain that she had an answer to that question. He taught the Catechism. “Question. What is your name? Answer. Carla Lou. Question. Who gave you this name? Answer. My sponsors in baptism, wherein I was made a member of Christ, the child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven.”

You see, we have many ways of identifying our selves --- of defining ourselves.

Think about the origin of your surname. There are patronymics, names derived from fathers: Johnson, Petrovich, Mackey. There are occupational names: Smith, Carpenter, Arkwright. Finally there are place names: Windsor,--- von Malottke. Yes, Virginia, there is a place for us. Aside from Cedarcroft. Actually, the “mallet” – is from our coat of arms.

Who are you? How do you define yourself? If you think about it, the priority you give to one role or another speaks volumes. I am a son. The Bible & The Prayer Book tell us that it is intended that a man shall leave father and mother and cleave unto a wife. I am a father. That role ends, too. I am a priest. The Church teaches that I share in Christ’s high priesthood as “a priest for ever after the order of Melchizadech.” That, I can assure you, can be very difficult. Difficult to clergy wives in particular, as they have extra duties of parenting and can’t complain about their spouse’s boss.

Responses. Responses. Responses. In our particular age, spousal fidelity seems to present too great a challenge to so many. Being driven by greed rather than ideals such as, “A day’s work for a day’s pay.”

This past week we went to the Opera Theater of St. Louis’ production of The Marriage of Figaro. In the pre-performance lecture, it was suggested that this opera is, at the heart of it, an essay on forgiveness. As is acknowledged by any 12-step program, there must first of all be something that awakens the party or parties to the acceptance of the fact that a problem exists. Then forgiveness can evoke forgiveness. In the last scene of the opera, the maidservant, masquerading as the Countess, sues the Count for forgiveness. Others of the household join her pleas. But the Count’s furious response is “No No No No!” But suddenly all the Count’s hidden scheming is burst upon the scene. He is the unfaithful one, who has been plotting to consummate an affair with the maidservant. The tables are turned! And he sings: “My lady, forgive me, beloved, forgive me!” Then there’s a pause. The orchestra is ready for the resolution of the chord. And the Countess sings: “How could I refuse it, my heart speaks for you, my heart speaks for you.”

When I was acting Dean of the Cathedral, we had a vacancy on the Parish Chapter --- the Vestry as it were. I was scheduled to meet our Senior Warden at one of Chicago’s most exclusive gentlemen’s clubs for a business lunch. Our warden was Orville Taylor, a partner in the famous law firm of Isham, Beale & Lincoln. (Yes, that Lincoln.) I had done my homework. I had a file folder with all the qualifications of our proposed interim member. He was a rising star among young lawyers. He had graduated with honors from Harvard Law School. He didn’t belong to the particular club where we were dining, but one equal in prestige. After examining the file folder at some length, Mr. Taylor placed it on the desk and, turning to me, said: “But who is he really, Father?”

But who are you? The Man, Jesus, defined Messiah, an unclear concept, in and by his life. Who are you, really? What are your responses in deeds, not just in words?

In closing, let me read this, courtesy of Bishop Paul Hewett:

For Fathers’ Day – Early in the 20th century, C.K. Chesterton prophesied that by the end of the century, the most radical thing in the world would be Christian fatherhood. He was right. The greatest need in our culture is for men to recover a vision of how every many is the provider, protector, and priest of his family. The essence of fatherhood is to provide for, protect, and be the priest of his family … to provide not just physical amenities, but a vision of the love of God, to protect his family from the forces of Gnosticism that are at war with the love of God. As priest, he offers creation, and his part of it, his family, as a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to his heavenly Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. The ministerial priest, the father of the local church, reveals to the men in it their priesthood.