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The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 26), October 31, 2004
Isaiah 1:10-20, II Thessalonians 1:1-12, Luke 19-1-10
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, West Valley City, UT

The Rev. W. Lee Shaw

Our text from Isaiah goes to the heart of the classic accusations of the prophets of Israel: empty words and worship at the expense of repentance and justice. The prophet is clear that God does not want the trappings of worship, no matter by whom, if the actions of the people do not promote right living and justice. Relationships, those between us and God and among ourselves are what matter, not our rituals to try and please God. Isaiah writes, “I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity....I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers; your hands are full of blood.”

Isaiah clearly puts the person and needs of people above that of the institutional ritual of the people. He wants them to move beyond the status quo of ritualism to repentance and caring for and protecting those on the margins of society: “...cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”

Last weekend I heard an old Jewish story told about the building of the Tower of Babel. You remember the story from Genesis where the people wanted to build a tower to heaven to get to God and then God confounded their languages and the tower project came to naught. It seems that during the building of the tower a man fell to his death. But people kept on working because the tower was so important. But then a large brick fell and broke apart and the workers sat down and wept because it was a piece of the tower itself that was broken, destroyed.

This story raises the hard question then as now, where are our priorities for institutions and individuals?

We see a similar tension in Luke's gospel with Zacchaeus. He is the “chief tax collector,” a very rich, powerful and important man. But he has come to see Jesus and now believes in his words. He goes to great lengths to see Jesus, even climbing a tree. And when he has Jesus in his home, he just “stood there” and confessed his sins against the people. He acknowledged that he had put the collection of taxes, the promotion of the empire above the needs of his own people. He saw how he had allowed the institution of government to overshadow his relationship with his fellow citizens. He repented. He turned around and began life in a new direction.

We need to look at how our actions within structures affect people. As Episcopalians we have an important tool to help us do that: our Baptismal Covenant. How do our actions help us proclaim in word and action the Good News of God in Christ? How does it help us love our neighbor as ourselves? How does it promote justice and peace and help us to respect the dignity of every human being?

We are at a time in our common life when these issues are not just sermon topics, but real life. Tuesday we will go to the polls. Our decisions in the voting booth will have impact on people we do not even know.

This year Bishop Irish and the Diocesan Council took the highly unusual action of stepping into the public arena on a matter before the electorate: the proposed Amendment 3 to the state constitution. This proposed amendment does not just define marriage as between a man and a woman, but prohibits the recognition of any “domestic union.” This goes well beyond any definition of marriage.

The Bishop and Council agreed that they would publicly speak out against Amendment 3, and they have. The bishop, along with several other religious leaders, including Jewish and Muslim, issued a statement earlier this month. It was signed by over 30 religious leaders, myself included. I will read this to you as part of the public stance the diocese has taken against this initiative:

Our faith communities define marriage as a covenant between a man and woman. Utah state law already defines marriage as a contract between a man and a woman. Yet, voters next month are being asked to amend the Utah constitution in unnecessarily discriminatory and damaging ways.

Amendment 3 would make it illegal for seniors, adopted children and others living in alternative domestic arrangements to have the same rights and privileges as those who are married. This is a punitive action that would hurt those who live in support of one another, sharing property and other legal responsibilities; that would negatively affect them if this constitutional amendment passes.

Our faith communities have also recognized that gay and lesbian human beings are children of God and deserve to be respected as any other human beings are. We differ on how to live that out but we agree they should not be singled out, targeted or marginalized by any civil law and certainly not by a constitutional amendment. We agree with the attorney general of Utah and other elected officials that Amendment 3 is bad law.

We oppose its passage and hope that Utah voters will think carefully and seriously about the effects of this amendment before casting their vote.

It is highly unusual for the Episcopal Diocese of Utah to step into the public discourse in this way; therefore, I will be available during coffee hour for further conversation if you wish.