I guess you heard about the guy who was heading downtown and realized that another fellow was tailgating him. As the two men approached a traffic light, it turned yellow. The first man did the cautious thing and stopped at the crosswalk, even though he probably could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection. The tailgating fellow behind him hit the roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as he missed his chance to get through the intersection.
Friends, when the preacher is ready and geared up to write the annual stewardship sermon for the kick-off of the Every Member Canvass, he opens the lectionary with great anticipation. He hopes, of course, for a word of hope and uplifting grace, something that will inspire the hearts of cheerful givers to support the work of the Cathedral in the coming year. Maybe the Beatitudes, or some image of the heavenly banquet, or a story about Jesus playing with a bunch of beagle puppies. Could there be anything better than that? (That’s in the Gospels, right?) Imagine then, if you will, my countenance a week ago on Sunday afternoon when I opened my bible and read the Gospel for today [Ahem]: “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off, it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.”
I have been heartened by the response to yesterday’s blog post on gun violence and gun control. The conversations that have arisen have been, for the most part, respectful and constructive. In the course of those conversations, many respondents have cited the connection between gun violence and mental illness. I agree that this connection is a vitally important component of the conversation. Especially so, because in our nation and particularly in the State of Texas, we face a critical lack of mental health resources.
God in the Midst of the City 