"Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8

The rain of Hannah, on the heels of Gustav, poured down yesterday – reminding us that three years ago at about this time Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. Three years earlier terrorists struck our country on 9/11. We are profoundly aware that we have no control over suffering caused by nature, but have some control over the suffering caused by humankind. We called for a war on terror against the instigators of 9/11 but, thus far, have only begun to address the serious environmental factors that possibly contribute to the acts of nature. The suffering is real and we are called as a community and as individuals to respond to our fellow human beings who are in trouble.

Our Gospel from Matthew today speaks to the nature of community and what it means to be the people of God. I understand that the Rev. Canon Mary Sulerud preached at the Cathedral recently. She said, as I understand it, that: "Diversity and inclusivity are civic values, whereas our Christian value is love that leads to transformation." Jesus preached that all things needed for salvation were covered in the Summary of the Law: that we are to love God with our hearts, and souls and minds and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our community and all Christian communities are under girded by this primary value.

In the Gospel passage for today Jesus calls for a radical concern for the other, particularly those lost or troubled, not an autocratic methodology to bring "people in line" or a prescription for excommunication. The New Interpreter's Bible (Volume III; p 379, Abington Press, Nashville, Ill.) emphasizes that being the community of God flies in the face of the radical individualism of our churches and communities. It affirms that sin is not an individual issue between ourselves and God or even just between two people, but has a profound affect on our church and community. The author reminds us that "…to pray is to say "our Father," even in the privacy of our own room." (ibid.) (Mt. 6:6, 9)

Each of us knows that unresolved disagreements can grow and affect the community or family as a whole. Jesus is here challenging us to deal fairly with one another "with radical grace and forgiveness." "The process protects the community and individuals within from the arbitrary actions of an individual or small group of individuals." (ibid.)

This has profound implications for our nation (we claim the USA is 'one nation under God'), for the Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church and St. Margaret's.

In Paul's letter to the Romans he affirms that loving God and one another fulfills all the commandments. He further warns that the time is short, that salvation is near, saying: "The night is far gone, the day is near." We are charged as individuals and as a community to put aside negative behavior and to take on the mantel of love.

This challenges each of us to examine who and how we are in the context of our homes, our church and this city of Washington. How we are speaks volumes to others who see us in the neighborhood, who are clients of our homeless programs, who function with us in the Diocese or those who enter our doors as newcomers.

I have seen in my own life and in the lives of people in this parish the transformation that has happened through the power of love given and received. I have seen it happen between individuals, and I have seen it happen in our community as we meet differences with radical love and forgiveness.

I am delighted to be back with you. You have changed me and taught me much about the power of love in the church. Let us start this year holding that standard high for all of us. We are only God's people in so far as each and every one of us is, loved, included and valued.

So, welcome home! Welcome home despite the rain, wind and turbulence of our natural world. Welcome home to a place where you can forgive radically and love deeply, and receive that same forgiveness and love in return! AMEN