A Sermon for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost, Year B (Ephesians 2:11-22)

It has already been one month since I joined fellow deputies, both clergy and lay, and the bishops of General Convention along the steamy banks of the Ohio River in Louisville, KY. Now, in the past, as you may know, these conventions have featured some infamous “fights” among Episcopalians; perhaps most notably, the ordination of women to the priesthood, a new prayer book (in 1979, the same one that’s in our pews today), and the full inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in the life and ministry of the Church.

This time around, however, there was nothing quite so contentious. We did debate whether what is happening in Gaza rises to the level of genocide. But we also debated things as seemingly mundane as clergy and lay health benefits and retirement.

I think most of our attention and intention were around the election of a new Presiding Bishop, as Michael Curry’s tenure draws to an end. In 2006, General Convention made news and history by electing Katharine Jefferts Schori to be the first female primate in Anglican history. Michael Curry’s own election in 2015 made history as the first person of color to be elected in the Episcopal Church. Who would the bishops elect to lead them and us this time around?

After only one ballot in the House of Bishops, we learned that they had called Sean Rowe to be our next Presiding Bishop. He is from the “Rust Belt” of Western Pennsylvania, not the usual prep-school background that many bishops can claim, but, and here’s the headline, Bishop Rowe is only 49! Younger than I am! A true Gen-Xer! Not only is he the first Gen-X Presiding Bishop, but he has a reputation the proceeds him. He has already been a part of helping struggling small dioceses find their feet and reorganize for the future. Bishop Rowe promises more of the same for the Episcopal Church as a whole. Where Michael Curry was a spokesman, a public-facing evangelist, Bishop Rowe promises to be more of a bureaucrat, helping the Church to rethink our internal priorities and organization. It may not sound exciting, perhaps, but his tenure actually promises to be one of long overdue reform and change.

Will his term as Presiding Bishop, whether it be 9 or 18 years, serve to unite the Church or potentially divide it, only time and the Holy Spirit will tell. But I hope we will enter into a new time as a diocese and an international church with hope and a sense of unity for the hard work ahead.

Now, you may be asking, what does all this have to do with any of the readings from the Bible that we’ve heard today. I take for my inspiration the words of Paul in Ephesians.

He [Jesus] is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.

The first Christians were deeply divided. They debated whether these converts, these new Gentile followers of Jesus would have to become Jews first and then become followers of Jesus. This would involve things such as keeping kosher with your meals and the men would have to be circumcised. Not the best strategy for Church growth, let me tell you!

Deep hostility had formed on both sides, and the church was dividing. Read the epistle to the Galatians for a deeper look into the infighting that took place.

Paul’s reflection on the divisions that were tearing the Ephesian church apart presents us with an image of Jesus. This is not Jesus as a warrior, but Jesus as a peace maker, a bridge. This Jesus would call to those who had been driven away to come back. He called to the strangers, and aliens, (need I add immigrants?) and what is his message for them? “You are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God”. Members of the household of God! That is radical welcome to those who had been kept at arm’s length. Those who had been treated as strangers, as second-class citizens. In Jesus, Paul writes, those days have come to an end. Instead Paul describes a wonderful vision: a new humanity being forged in the person of Jesus Christ. Unity replaces antagonism. Peace replaces hostility. Reconciliation instead of retribution.

Our nation is divided. We are reminded daily how divided we are. I’m not here to address the many issues facing us as a nation as we enter a time of discernment deciding who should lead us. I will “stay in my lane” as the saying goes these days. But I can speak to our life as part of the Body of Christ. Our church has been deeply divided in the past, over the issues I’ve already mentioned, but even today. My challenge is for us as Episcopalians but also as members of the Body of Christ: if we as the Church, as the Body of Christ, remain deeply divided as well, what hope is there in that? If we cannot show the world the love of Christ bringing us together, what do we have to show them to make things better? What hope do we have to share?

As Bishop Curry has been fond of saying, and he says it every chance he has, “If it’s not about love, then it’s not about God.”

Political circumstances come and go. Sometimes they are VERY challenging and divisive. My question is, can we as the Church find a way beyond division and divisiveness? Will we allow current circumstances to drive us apart into warring factions or will we seek unity in love?

Jesus is our peace, but that peace will not come easily or automatically. Peace takes work.

Which is easier – cultivating divisions or striving for unity and peace?

Despite our deep divisions as a country, we must not lose hope. Our goal must not be revenge against those one “the other side”. Instead, our goal must be peace, as Paul describes. Peace is the harder choice. Working for unity is even riskier.

We have an opportunity every time we gather for Eucharist to practice this peace-making. After the confession and absolution, we practice what is called, “Passing the peace”. Now, this is not just a time to greet your neighbor or to meet the newcomer across the aisle. The intention of exchanging the peace is to make things right with someone in the parish or in your life with whom you have a problem, or are holding a grudge. It’s a time to make things right before we approach the Lord’s Table.

This is when we get to practice. When we get to decide– what face of Jesus should we as the church show to the world?

Can we present the world something radically different–a vision of Jesus that calls us to humility? Can we show the world a glimpse of a savior who does not desire death or destruction, but rather unity and an end to hostility?

Sometimes leaders seek to divide us, but I will point to the cross instead. Jesus is our peace. He is our reconciliation. I see in Jesus’ risen body not revenge, not conquest, but reconciliation and peace. Amen.