Now I don’t want to preach a gospel of fear, but I think we’re at a very critical juncture in our world community. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "we either will learn to live together and respect--as we say in the Baptismal covenant--the dignity of every human being, even those very different from us, or we will destroy one another." I wanna say the good news is that you and I are grounded in the Kingdom of God. We don’t have to fear anybody or anything. I’ve been with death a lot the past few weeks, with dying persons and funerals. Kinda has reminded me of my mortality as Ash Wednesday came this week. I like to think of death as entering the fullness of the Kingdom of God that we already know. We already know something about God’s Kingdom—it’s here. Not up there, not out there—it’s here. It’s what undergirds our “Us”—It’s within us.  I would also ask you to evaluate where you are as a Kingdom-bearer... what you’re doing... what you’re giving witness to in your life and in your journey.

          [Firstly], carve out some time for God to be present to you. Read deeply of his scriptures and meditate on them. Carve out time each day.

          Secondly, be in relationship with a person very different from you—one or two persons that you ordinarily would not be in relationship to. Be a bridge-  
          builder--a Bridge-Builder.

          Thirdly, there are many organizations who work for social justice, who bring together people from various walks [of life], and various faiths, and various
          ethnicities—get involved. Make a difference.

A church on mission is really carrying forth God’s Kingdom and giving witness to it... or it’s a club. I don’t want to be a member of a club. And I hope you don’t either. Give thanks for the witnesses of so many people down through the years who have worked for justice and equality for God’s Kingdom. And let’s do it too.

Amen.

From Chip's homily at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Cary, North Carolina • February 21st, 2010