Loving each other and this place

Today is a day of questions.

First, we hear from James and John, the Sons of Zebedee aka the Sons of Thunder.

And just as an aside, I had a teacher once who thought the name Sons of Thunder would be the perfect name for a bowling team.

And I agree!

Still, that being here nor there, John and James have confronted Jesus and they have a request: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

Now, this seems a bit impertinent, it’s as if they are saying, “Jesus, make us your favorite.”

And even more impertinent is that their “question” is phrased in the form of a statement.

Still, though rude may it be, it is understandable that they would wonder about such things.

You see, James and John were fisherman and not necessarily owners of the largest fishing outfit around Galilee.

From what we can tell, they fished with their father but there is no talk of them owning a fleet of boats or having homes filled with family as Peter did, so they might have been a bit lower on the economic scale than the other disciples.

Add to that, they would have had to pay out a portion of their profits to the Romans.

So we can imagine that James and John were somewhat poorer than others, they were living in an occupied land and they had to pay taxes to the occupier.

And Rome wasn’t a benevolent occupier.

They were cruel to the local population, they crushed any sign of dissent and would eventually, attempt to crush the movement Jesus led, before, during and after his journey to the cross.

Add all of this up and you might understand why James and John were called the Sons of Thunder, as their life experiences might have drawn them to anger at Rome and they might have expressed that anger quite vehemently.

So that’s the background and we return to the impudent request: “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.”

They are thinking about Rome.

They are thinking about human kings and courtesans.

They are talking about human glory and, probably, human vengeance.

I can imagine James and John seeing themselves in the throne room, on either side of Jesus meting out punishment to Pilate, to the Centurian who harassed their family, the tax collector who took their earnings.

And they would get revenge.

Pilate?

To Golgotha you go!

The Centurian?

A hundred lashes!

The Tax Collector?

Back to Rome with you!

And Jesus listens to this request.

He might even understand it, but there are greater things on his mind.

He’s thinking about divine glory.

And before that, Jesus is thinking about his own Passion and way to the cross.

So, we have two different visions about Jesus’ reign as savior: one through a human lens and one through God’s lens.

Ultimately, the question is answered, we know which kingdom shall come to pass, the one that will last, the one to which we all aspire.

Yet throughout Jesus’ ministry there is tension between wishing to be freed from human bonds and Jesus’ professing of the greater kingdom to come.

And that perhaps, is a tension we continue to see.

As we read in last weeks gospel we learned that we are asked to give up everything to follow Jesus, and still, how much is everything?

We are told to love our neighbor and still, it is asked just who is our neighbor?

This is a tension that has lasted for two-thousand years and it is hard imagine it slackening.

How much human stuff, how much holy stuff are we to allow into worship, belief systems, etc.?

These are questions asked over the centuries and into today which, coincidentally, leads us to this very morning.

Because, you see, we have a question to answer.

And the answer to that question is not easy.

Do we choose to sell the Parish House?

That is the question and at first glance answering it doesn’t seem all that difficult, it’s a simple yes or no.

And yet in simplicity, we can find complexity.

Ask Jenn.

I asked her a yes or no question once and she said yes to marrying me, not a simple answer, I can assure you!

And the question of the Parish House is not a simple one either.

Because there are emotions involved and they are emotions that bubble up out that most beautiful of places, our love for this parish.

And that is my hope for the parish vote this morning.

That you recognize in how you speak to each other and about this vote that you are speaking from a place of love.

And remember in this discussion, that you love each other.

No structure is everlasting but love is and it is the permanence of those relationships that cause us to walk into this structure however temporary each Sunday.

It is the relationships we have built that have steadied the foundation of this church and its parish house.

And so now we vote, well, in a half hour or so, we’ll vote, but that’s beside the point.

Today is the day we vote on this question that has long been on our minds.

Do we sell or do we keep the parish house.

And when you vote, remember there is no wrong answer.

Both answers are valid, both are full of possibilities.

I only ask that vote for what is on your heart and what your heart says is best for the life of this church.

And once we vote, we will have voted.

Your vestry is committed to fulfilling the obligations of whatever result is announced.

Following this service and after the parish vote, the vestry and I will gather to tally the results and will announce them to the parish as soon as possible.

And from there we move on.

There might be some disappointment and there might be some frustration with the result, but that disappointment should remain in the result and not in each other.

Things like this can be tricky, there are feelings attached and folks might not always agree with what we perceive to be the best course of action, yet know that the same passion and love you have for St. Luke’s guides the decision of your fellow parishioner who might come to a different conclusion.

No, these things are not always easy, but when they are born out of love, we can find understanding and common ground.

And that we love each other is the easiest thing to know.

From our Book of Common Prayer:

Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel in this upcoming parish vote for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

And amen!