Be Opened!
A Sermon of The Rev. Dr. David A. Killian, Rector
All Saints Parish
Brookline, Massachusetts
September 7, 2003
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Text: Mark 7:31-37
I
Next Sunday, we will welcome St. Andrew's Episcopal Church for the Deaf to our worship service. As I listened to today's Gospel passage about Jesus healing the deaf man, I wondered how our friends from St. Andrew's would feel about it. I suspect that they are keenly aware that deafness is only one of many impediments to communication. Today's Gospel speaks of God's desire to open up whatever is preventing us from listening and comprehending.
Several years ago, I was a volunteer with the Samaritans, a group that
helps people that are threatening suicide. The first time I spoke to a
suicidal person I was terrified that the person would take his life while
we were on the phone. But, as inadequate as I felt, God used me to speak
the words, "Ephphatha, be opened." The important thing was to
let the other person talk. If a person stayed on the phone for a half
hour or more, usually the immediate crisis would pass. Then a person could
get longer term counseling and the help needed.
There is something powerful about listening. Adrian vanKamm, the great
psychologist, wrote his doctoral dissertation on the factors that made
psychological counseling effective. He said the most important ingredient
was the feeling of being understood. That's what makes the difference
-- feeling that another human being hears my cry for help, my confusion,
my pain -- and understands me.
II
It is not always easy to listen. Our feelings can get in the way. The Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, in his book, Creating True Peace, says we are able to listen to another person when we have only one purpose: to offer the opportunity to open his or her heart. "If you can keep that awareness and compassion alive in you, then you can sit and listen for one hour even if the other person expresses wrong perceptions, condemnation, and bitterness. You can continue to listen because you are protected by the nectar of compassion in your own heart."
Listening is important. Strangely, religious people don't always listen well to each other, as Linus discovered in the Peanuts cartoon strip. Lucy is skipping rope. Linus comes up to her and asks, "Do you ever pray, Lucy?" Lucy responds, "That's kind of a personal question, isn't it. Are you trying to start an argument?" Linus is bewildered as Lucy continues, "I suppose you think you're somebody pretty smart, don't you? I suppose you think...." In the last frame, Linus is holding his blanket to his cheek and sucking his thumb as he tells Charlie Brown, "You're right....Religion is a very touchy subject."
Well, it was a touchy subject at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church that I attended in Minneapolis this summer. Much was discussed, but what captured the headlines was the election as bishop of Gene Robinson, a gay man living in a committed relationship. The Convention was asked to give or deny its assent to his election as bishop of New Hampshire. On the day that the House of Bishops voted this question. Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold first asked the bishops to ponder silently and listen what God was calling forth from them; then he asked the bishops to write down the reasons they should assent and not assent. Then he asked them to share their opinions in small groups and to listen. Then he asked the bishops to speak publicly and to listen respectfully to what was said. It was as though Bishop Griswold was praying, "Ephphatha," "Be opened." Many bishops felt that Holy Spirit was leading them to affirm that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters are called by God to live in committed relationships and that this should not be a bar to service in the Church. Other bishops were convinced that homosexual behavior was against the teaching of Scripture. In the end, the majority voted to confirm Gene Robinson as bishop.
The election of Bishop Robinson has engendered controversy in our church and throughout the Anglican communion. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has called a meeting next month with Anglican bishops from around the world. His message to these bishops might again well be "Ephphatha," "Be opened." The challenge to the Anglican communion is to work together as a church even though there are disagreements in conscience. It is like a family that chooses to stay together and love one another even though parents and children disagree on some issues. James, in the epistle we heard today, gives guidance here. James says "let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger" and James concludes with an admonition "to care for orphans and widows in their distress." One of things that makes me most hopeful for the future of our church is the commitment that African and Asian dioceses are making to continue their partnerships in mission with American dioceses even though they disagree on the question of homosexuality. If we can keep working together for the poor, God will continue to speak "Ephphatha" and help us stay together as a Church.
III
Let's return to today's Gospel passage. Imagine that you are the deaf man. You have been dealing with your inability to hear and comprehend all of your life. Now you stand before Christ. He touches you and says, "Ephphatha." "Be opened." As Christians, we believe that the risen Christ is here in our worship as a living presence. Every time we come to worship, God opens our hearts a little bit more. God helps us become the unique persons we were created to be. God opens our minds and souls through the Scriptures, the sermon, the prayers, the music, and most importantly, the Communion of Christ's Body and Blood.
Today, we will be doing something new in our worship, which will be yet another way for God to open our hearts. After communion, we will sing a Taise chant. These chants were developed by the ecumenical monastery in Taise, France, and they are particularly effective in opening one's soul. As you sing the words in a meditative way, think of Christ saying to you, "Ephphatha," "Be opened."
Let us pray. O God, we come before you today like the deaf man. We need your healing touch, your compassionate grace. Open our minds and hearts to discover your presence in our world. Lead us to love all people, especially those who disagree with us, and teach us to work for justice for the most neglected in our midst. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.