Text: Mark 9:2-9

The season of the Church year that ends today focuses on the manifestation of Christ in and to the world. Modern language sometimes uses the name of the season, "Epiphany," to describe a sudden insight into something—seeing it as it truly is—what some people call "Aha!" moments. In theological terms, I believe we could also call such events "sacramental," as we see through the physical to the spiritual reality behind them.

We end this season with the story of just such a moment in the lives of Peter, James and John, Jesus’ three closest disciples. In the Transfiguration, they suddenly saw beyond the humanity of Jesus to the spiritual reality of his being: "This is my Son, the Beloved." It is one the Bible’s great sacramental moments, but even in that vision, they do not grasp the full truth of what they have seen—their minds remain "veiled," in Paul’s words.

The church’s central affirmation—the doctrine of the Incarnation—is that Jesus of Nazareth, fully human in every way that we understand, is at the same time fully divine. We see this only dimly, with our limited human ability to comprehend the spiritual reality that lies beyond and behind the material world.

The sacraments we have considered in this season —the two "Dominical" and the five lesser—are at the heart of our life as a church, helping to define who we are as a people. Each sacrament can give rise to the insights of which I have spoken, moments when we see through the ritual to recognize God’s grace in action in human lives.

We speak of them as the sacraments of the church, a reminder that they belong to the faithful, gifts from God for the building up of his people, through the spiritual graces they impart. We can also speak of the "sacrament (singular) of the church," reminding us that the church itself has the nature of a sacrament:

• There is an outward & visible sign: we see people gathered (first!). We also see a building. We see rites and rituals, and other gatherings and activities.
• There is also an inward & spiritual grace: the love of God in action in people’s lives.

It is safe to say that many people, especially those who encounter the church only occasionally, see the outward and visible of the church, but fail to perceive the inward and spiritual reality. It may even pertain to some people more involved in church life.

I read a novel this past week. One of the minor characters was a woman who didn’t really believe anything anymore, but kept up her church activity because it was the one place she could be assured of a good row. The author managed to make me chuckle at first, but then to grimace a bit, because, sadly, many people will see it as founded in truth.

Comments like that may cause us to ask what people should see when they encounter the church. I believe we should pray that by the grace of God, they would perceive God’s love in action in all that we do within these walls and beyond. But as we pray, we should also confess that at times churches (including St. Matthew’s Cathedral!) erect barriers to that perception, usually unconsciously but at times by conscious decision.

We have just completed our program of House Parties, in which people from around the parish gathered in each other’s homes to talk about the life of the parish. There was much hope and joy expressed in those meetings, and also some strong concerns. But there was one very important insight: we don’t know each other very well. We have made attempts in past to be more welcoming as a congregation, but the truth is that it is hard to do that when many of the people around you are just faces. We will be considering some means to building up our sense of parish community, so that we can better welcome each other, and all who come to us.

We also heard a number of concerns about our ministry with and for young children and their families. We heard concerns about the kind of reception they receive, and the perception among some families that other congregants do not wish to hear or perhaps even to see their children here at church. It only takes one "look"—regardless of its intent—to give the message that a child is unwelcome.

If a child’s fussiness bothers you during worship, let me say this unequivocally: It is better that the child is crying here than not here. As a former bishop of mine used to say, it’s part of God’s music. It’s a sign that the church is alive. I call on all members of this parish to welcome our youngest members, and to rejoice in their presence in our midst.

Not coincidentally, I have decided that the children’s talk will be reinstated to our worship, beginning next Sunday, the first Sunday in Lent.

Welcoming people to our fellowship, whether they have young children or not, is the responsibility of the whole congregation. We are called to give thanks for everyone who walks through these doors. The Holy Spirit has led every one of them here, and it is up to every one of us to help God build up his people.

We heard a number of concerns about music, with both positive and negative opinions about our current musical practices. There are some people who attend St. Matthew’s because of the music—I have heard of "aha!" moments from some of them. There are others whom we might say attend in spite of the music—people for whom our music can be a barrier.

Musical issues are often the most contentious matters in church life. It is not possible to please everybody all the time, because music is so much a matter of personal taste. Nonetheless, we need to address the questions raised, and to do it in a constructive and responsible fashion. It is my hope that we can strike a working committee on music with broad representation from across the parish, to work on these matters. Some musical issues will likely be relatively easy and inexpensive to resolve. Others will take time and money.

Beginning this afternoon at the Annual Meeting, and continuing for months and years to come, we will by the grace of God continue to build up this congregation. The House Parties helped us to define the nature of the challenge, and began to point the way ahead. Let us remember that we are a sacramental people—formed and fed through the sacraments of the church to be the sacrament of the church.

Many challenges lie ahead in our corner of God’s vineyard, but let this be our prayer:

May God may give us the grace to work to help all whom enter here to see God’s love in action in all our people, that they may go forth proclaiming, "God was at work here!"