Last Sunday saw our second Christian Formation Hour from 10.30-11.30am and the first in the Episcopal 101 program exploring the essentials of Christian belief and practice. Each week I will post the content of the session at stmartinsprov.org/adult-formation/  This last week we explored the question: Who or What is God? This week we ask the question: Who is Jesus? Thank you to everyone who is giving this new experiment in how we do Sunday morning, a willing go!

 

This weekend is the Third Sunday in Advent and has been designated the Sunday within something called the National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend. I am somewhat daunted by the task of having to address this event in my sermon because although like everyone else I have my personal opinions about our current national emergency of gun violent deaths, I am not yet an American Citizen, and therefore hesitate to appear to be too opinionated about the American cultural context.

 

The number of gun related deaths in the US is shocking. It appears staggering to other Western nations who don't appear to have the same problem. Having lived in three cultural contexts in my life, it seems to me that Americans do not have a monopoly on violent tendencies.  Also, in both New Zealand and the UK the possession of hunting rifles is not uncommon, but very few indeed possess handguns, and such possession is governed by a strict registration process. The difference with America lies in the unrestricted availability not only of handguns but assault weapons designed for combat situations.

 

The origin and subsequent interpretation of the Second Amendment reveals a complex line of development. Yet, even Justice Scalia, with whose legal decisions I am generally not in agreement, has declared that the right to bear arms is not an unencumbered right exempt from regulation.  A key factor is the lack of will in Congress to legislate regulations appropriate in the context of a 21st-century nation in the grip of an escalation of fearfulness. We know why Congress is reluctant to act. It's the same reason that few politicians are unwilling to confront the rising tide of demagoguery flooding the airwaves at present. The reason is money equals power!

 

The teaching of Christianity is very clear on the issues of guns. Simply put, it sees no need for them. Even the sharp and judgmental tongue of John the Baptist, in some ways the very epitome of an evangelical style of religion, which in this country continues to remain deafeningly silent on this issue of gun violence, when asked by the crowds what should we do?, told them:

St Augustine said: Hope has two daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are.

 

Let this be our cry of hope in this Advent time. See you in Church, this Sunday!