With David as their king, the people of Israel are at peace with their neighbors. David has settled into his house and he thinks it is wrong for him to live in a house while the ark of God sits in a tent. He mentions building a temple to Nathan, and that very night God comes to Nathan with a message for David. David is to remember that God has been with the people of Israel throughout their history. God says, “as I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day,” and “wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel .” God speaks of the tribal leaders who he commanded to shepherd his people. In just a few verses in Samuel, we are reminded that God delivered the people from slavery and was with them in the desert before they entered the Promised Land. Even their tribal leaders were doing God’s work – shepherding the people of Israel . About David, God said “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel ; and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.” Then, there is another reference to the God’s work among the people, “as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel . . .” God is working through the people of Israel, lifting up for them leaders to shepherd and guide them – and to rule over them as king. After leading the people through tremendous adversity to become a united nation, the Lord promises rest from all their enemies. In the end, God says: “When your [David’s] days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me.”

That son who will build the temple is Solomon – but let us not forgot the messiah was to come from the line of David. Last week, I noted the difference between Jesus, the messiah, and what the people expected. Today’s Old and New Testament readings bring this into sharper focus. David made a name for himself in battle; Jesus by curing the sick.

Today’s Gospel reading begins with the apostles reporting back to Jesus. They tell him what they have done and what they have taught. Jesus listens and knows they need time to rest. As many here know from personal experience, the greatest need for caregivers is self care. Caregivers need rest in order to continue doing what they do. The gospel reading also makes this abundantly clear. Jesus and the apostles board a boat for a get-away – a retreat. But as their boat approaches the shore on the other side, people recognize Jesus and begin bringing their sick to him. Everywhere Jesus goes; the people lay their sick on mats before him and beg Jesus to heal them. All who touch the fringe of his cloak, healed.

But all this happens when Jesus and the Apostles are going off for some solitude. As they go ashore, Jesus sees a great crowd; and Marks says, “he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.” There are and will always be more people in need than you and I can help – yet we, too, are called to respond as Christ did – with compassion.

One theory of human development is Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Abraham Maslow in the 1940’s proposed a theory which says that basic physical and security needs must be met before we are capable of love, self-esteem, and self actualization. Like stacking building blocks, we must have food, housing, and clothing before we can move into higher levels of functioning.

In the days of David, people’s need for safety drove them to view God as a protector. From Samuel, we understand that God was thought to work through kings and tribal leaders to guard and protect his people – foundational needs according to Maslow. Jesus saw the people as sheep without a shepherd, which is a metaphor for a people without a king. The people of Israel were, indeed, without a king for they were under Roman rule. So logically they needed a military messiah.

Jesus teaches, however, that it is the poor and the outcast who will inherit the kingdom of God . Not by force, but by turning the other cheek and going the extra mile. Rather than focus on the physical needs first as Maslow would suggest, Jesus teaches people to focus on their spiritual well being and the care of others first. He provides spiritual leadership.

The world is full of uncertainty, leaders make decisions daily that are good for some, bad for others – but if we center our sights on Christ, we can weather the storms.

Our Anglican Communion is in the midst of such a storm. For many, the actions of this General Convention mark the point of a certain schism, or split, in the Communion. The convention passed a resolution that will permit the ordination of priests, deacons, and bishops regardless of their gender preference, and the development of a liturgy for blessing same gendered unions. We here at St. Andrew’s know all too well that people have left the Episcopal Church. Now, a group has formed a new national province and they are seeking recognition by the Anglican Communion.

The Anglican Communion is a voluntary association of churches that share a common heritage and form of worship. The Episcopal Church had been asked, by this communion, to refrain from such ordinations after the consecration of Gene Robinson as bishop of New Hampshire . We agreed at our last General Convention – but the action of this General Convention reverses that decision while at the same time acknowledging differences of opinions within our Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.

This action will result in highly publicized arguments within our country and our communion – but we should not allow it to overshadow the Gospel message. Whether or not we agree with the actions of the General Convention, it need not divide us. We are not called into full agreement on anything, except to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, visit those who are imprisoned, and care for the sick. We are also taught to unite in prayer, worship, fellowship, and study. The kingdom of God may be lost in theological debates, and it can be fulfilled in service.

You may very well be asked about our church’s decision by many who believe our church is heretical. You may even agree that the decision made at this convention is, in fact, contrary to the teaching contained in the Holy Scripture. More important, however, is that we continue our work to help people in need. We must trust the Holy Spirit to work in the life of this church, that in the end, the Holy Spirit will lead us into God’s Kingdom. We need to keep our focus on prayer, worship, fellowship, and service. Jesus is looking upon us with compassion. He will teach us many things. Let us listen for his voice and respond – with compassion to one another.