As preached by Brother Luke
Holy Wisdom Church
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!
Br Stavros has visited Mount Athos twice. The photographs he took of the mountain and several of the monasteries are stunning. Some are hanging on our refectory walls. And of course, one can find innumerable books filled with photographs of monasteries on Mount Athos, elsewhere in Greece and around the world that have been built on rocks and magnificent cliffs. The monks took to heart, literally, the image of building their monasteries, and by extension their faith in Christ, on solid rock. New Skete is also built on a rocky ledge, so we follow in a venerable tradition.
The image of a rock representing faith is a common feature of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. So, by deciding to transfer the Feast of Peter and Paul to this Sunday which is the 4th Sunday after Pentecost this year, we end up with two gospel readings from Matthew that use the image of a rock.
The Matthew reading for the feast of Peter and Paul identifies Peter as the rock of faith upon which Christ will build his church. The Matthew reading for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost is the passage at the end of the long sermon on the mount. It is about those who hear Christ’s teachings and take them to heart and believe. The image is the contrast between building one’s house on solid rock or on sand. If the foundation is weak like sand, then when the storm comes and puts stress on the house, that house of faith will fall, just as Ezekiel prophesizes for those who do not do God’s will. The wall they build and whitewash will be destroyed by the storm.
The theme of the reading from Peter is similar to that found in the letters of John, emphasizing how to live the message of Christ, that is to love purely, in a way that covers over sin. It’s not about denial, it’s about forgiveness. It’s about understanding our own, and others’, weaknesses and seeing, as God sees, the good in, and value of, that person, that transcends faults and failings. The fact that these words come from Peter, means they carry the additional weight of his lived experience of failure and rising above it while receiving the love of Christ even in the midst of failure.
A bit of a switch in roles is revealed in these readings too. Peter is called rock because he, by grace, understands that Jesus is the Christ. But once this is openly articulated, Jesus cautions Peter and the apostles not to tell anyone. Ultimately, it is Paul who makes that his central message.
The reading from Peter is about praxis, that is, living the teachings of Christ, as in the long sermon on the mount; while Paul is the one to emphasize Jesus as the Christ, whose death and resurrection usher in our path to salvation. It is Christ crucified and raised from the dead that is Paul’s boast.
These are in a sense the two pillars of the faith represented by Peter and Paul. Jesus as Messiah, the Christ, is the foundation of the authority for his teachings. Jesus as teacher, witnessed by the multitudes hearing the sermon on the mount, gives the message of the coming reign of God its flesh and blood reality. We all live in that flesh and blood reality.
With that in mind, we are fortunate to be able to celebrate another aspect of this feast, for today is a special day for one of our brothers. His 52 years of dedicated service to the church as deacon is another example of how the rock of faith can be lived out. Something he has lived out both as deacon, and as a founding brother of this community. He is one who mentored me in many aspects of this life and especially in our work with German shepherd puppies.
It just so happens that the CD we published as part of our 50th anniversary celebration last year includes several tracks with Archdeacon Peter serving and chanting the deacon’s responses. That memento is available in our gift shop and through our web store for those who may be interested in it.
So, Brother Peter, as we sang to you last night: mnogya Lyeta! Many Years!
Glory be to Jesus Christ!
