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March 12, 2006
The Venerable Archdeacon Tina Campbell
Second Sunday in Lent

To read the lessons for the day click here

I subscribe to a Christian spiritual life journal called "Weavings", and a recent volume dealt with the subject of Mystery. Now its thrust was the extent to which we are willing to risk encounter with paradox, metaphor and let go of literalism. But I thought there was much to commend it for sharing in Lent.

One of the essays was entitled "Barking at Angels". The author describes a Christmas card with a shepherd out with the sheep shielding his eyes from the glory of the herald angel. His sheep dog is with him, barking wildly at the stranger. The author imagines the shepherd trying mightily to hush the dog so he can hear what the angel is saying. It struck me that Lent is a time to hush the proverbial barking dog-whatever that might be in our lives that tries to protect us with a steady stream of noise, whatever that might be that drowns out the voice of God and God's messengers.

Throughout the different articles in the journal one thing was common. That is that we cannot control the opportunities to encounter the Mystery of God. One writer notices the beauty of creation in some chard she is washing in the sink. One finds the "table set in the wilderness" when the neighbors show up with food after a devastating fire. One describes some spontaneous dancing that occurs at an outdoor worship service. As one puts it, "I never know when the veil might part and mystery might enfold me."

I think the readings today have those elements of hushing the barking and of the invitation to enter the mystery.

Lots of mystery in that first passage from Genesis; Abram and Sarai were settled and prosperous when they were called to journey to a new place. Abraham was 99 years old when he was told that his wife of so many years would bear a son. A bit of a surprise for Sarah, too. Abraham was told by God, "I will make my covenant with you." Sarah will give rise to nations! And they are given new names! Abram becomes Abraham and Sarai becomes Sarah. We are told Abraham fell on his face-so overwhelming is it to encounter God!

The passage from the Letter to the Romans has Paul describing Abraham," When he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead!" For Paul, no Old Testament personage exemplified faith better than Abraham. His openness to God's mystery, his willingness to trust enabled his relationship with God. So it was for him and so it can be for us.

The passage from Mark has much that is stunning, even hard to hear. Peter, just four verses earlier had declared, correctly , to Jesus," You are the Messiah." Now, it's ,"Get behind me, Satan.! It is a dramatic and stern silencing of the barking. And the passage is full of paradox. Followers must deny themselves, those who want to save their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives will save them.

In that moment the veil is lifted and the self-sacrifice, the willingness to offer one's self up, that lies at the heart of every relationship is revealed. Peter and the disciples are called to enter the mystery, as awesome and as frightening as that might seem.

So how does this invitation to enter the mystery, to hear the herald angel play out for us? One of the journal articles was entitled "Mystery and Institutional Rebirth." Most of us have had those encounters with the Divine Mystery at various times. Perhaps there was a particularly moving family experience, a graduation, the birth of a child. Perhaps there was stunning engagement with creation: a mountain top experience, contemplating the ocean, gazing at a starry sky. There are those moments that are so powerful, when you just feel that you are a part of something much larger, something profound, something ancient. The author of the article wonders if Mystery, which brings us so much freshness in our personal journeys could also be the font of freshness in our institutional life.

Since we cannot manufacture experiences of the divine mystery, perhaps, he suggests, what we can do is take the time to reflect prayerfully on the question" Where have we experienced the divine mystery in our common life." Well, I have experienced some wonderful liturgical moments, at ordinations, sometimes as I stand at the Altar and watch you come up the aisle for Communion, sometimes the music, which is always good, is absolutely breathtaking. I have experienced chills looking over the tables at the Annual Meeting. The tables are decorated; sometimes the people are too! I hear the fellowship and buzz of conversation around the tables as we break bread together.

But the author cautions us to recognize the mystery of God's presence in the places of brokenness, the not-so-celebratory times.

I remember, when I was new at Trinity. A parishioner's partner had to relocate for his job. However the parishioner's mother was in a care facility suffering with Alzheimer's. The parishioner really did not want to leave his mother, but hesitated to move her again. A group of friends of church stepped up. They told him that they would take care of her. They would treat her like she was their mother. They would visit her regularly, talk with her caregivers, be with her has she journeyed on what Nancy Reagan called "the long goodbye."

And then there was the time I walked in on a meeting here at Trinity and asked, "Oh, what group is this?" They told me it was the "Friends of ____________" .A parishioner had been diagnosed with a chronic disease and the ad hoc group just formed and named itself. The members look after ______. They visit her, provide her with transportation, and keep in touch with her family.

Some year's back, when my husband was ill and hospitalized for five weeks. A woman, who was new to Trinity, came to me and noted that she lived close to me and she offered to walk our dog--which she did almost daily through my husband's recovery.

And then last Ash Wednesday I was not scheduled to administer ashes, but I was at the Altar with the Bishop. He administered ashes to me and then put the bowl in my hands and this deacon traced that dark cross on her bishop's forehead. "Jerry, you are dust and to dust you shall return."

I think all of these are examples of experiencing the mystery of God's presence at Trinity Cathedral. They are those times when I have felt the power of God at work in this place.

Those of us who attended the Vestry Retreat had the pleasure of hearing dean-elect Baker preach. He compared Jesus in the desert from last Sunday's gospel to the vestry entering the desert. He defined the desert as anyplace where you do not have your regular support network. The members of the Vestry are called to be new people with new titles. Like Jesus hearing his name (My son, the Beloved) and embarking on his ministry.

Members of the Vestry are present today for introductions, not a commissioning-that will wait until the new Dean arrives. But like Abram and Sarai, they will sport new nametags and titles: Chaplain, Clerk, Sr. Warden, Jr. Warden.

These people have been active here at the Cathedral for a long time, but now they really will be involved, dealing with the budget and being in on the ground floor with the new Dean. They will have increased knowledge and a broader view of the workings of the Cathedral. And best of all, they will be praying for us. Perhaps you received a card like this. Mine came on Friday. The names of all the members of the Cathedral are divided up among the vestry members. A particular member of the Vestry has your name and will pray for you regularly, weekly at least. And he or she will do this not because you are a special friend, not because you served on a committee together, not because you were in the same EFM class, but simply because you, are a member of Trinity Cathedral, a sheep of this fold and a lamb of this flock. When I take the time to think on this ministry of prayer I recognize this as another way in which the mystery of God's presence is shown in our common life.

Today, across the court in the Great Hall we are having a Ministry Faire. Most of the groups with responsibility to the various ministries have exhibits there. I invite you to walk through the exhibits, savor the opportunities, and talk to some of the people. Let them witness to you about the work in which they are engaged.

There are mysteries there: A newcomer's card filled out and put in the offering becomes a pie delivered to your home. A grieving family having just left the funeral of their loved walks into that building and receives comfort and nourishment.

There are new names there, too: Stephen minister, Eucharistic minister, Family Promise volunteer, Bookshop volunteer.

I wish you a holy Lent. I invite you to hush the barking dog within, to pay attention, to be open to message of angels, to the mystery of God's presence. And I will close with the words of Marilyn McEntyre, also a Weavings author:

The invitation that comes to us again and again in Scripture, directly or indirectly, is to consent to a relationship with the Lord of Mysteries and the Master of Surprises, who waits patiently for us with open arms (and delights we can't even guess at) while demanding that we put away our childish cravings for smaller securities so as to enter into a wider, richer, more complex intimacy-a mystery indeed. No relationship worth having can be had without risk. Certainly not this one. (Weavings, Vol. xxi, Number 1)

Amen.