One of the hallmarks of Anglican theology is our insistence that one cannot see the whole picture by standing in one place. We state that one must start with knowledge of Scripture gained by gazing deeply and frequently into both the sunlit meadows of some of the psalms and the dark and troubling discourses about Gethsemane and Golgotha. There is a magnificent arc to the story of salvation history- there is glory in the larger form of it and wisdom in the details.

But just as I wear bifocals and many of you do not, each person, indeed each century, looks at Scripture through different lens. Who could live through World War One and not have their view of everything colored by the horrors of the War to End All Wars? Read the theologian Karl Barth and see how the trenches carved new questions and craved new answers as Barth read the same Scriptures we regard today.

And just as the shape of each age, or culture, allows its citizens to see things they could not previously consider, one's own time also fashions individual and collective blinders leaving each age with blind spots. A literal reading of the bible is not actually possible. Every one of us wears metaphorical glasses formed by personality, culture, education, and experience. Whether we admit we gaze through glasses or not, we do not - indeed we cannot - read the bible without filtering and conditioning the understanding we draw from these ancient stories from another time and culture.

Anglicans have a healthy regard for reason and a clear view of human limits so we mitigate the effects of our individual constraints by gathering the considered view of others - those around us in our own day and those who came before us in the faith. If you have never done so I invite you to find three biblical commentaries written in three different centuries and look at their views on the same passage of Scripture. What is the same? What is different? Like a Venn diagram of three overlapping circles, the intersection of all three commentaries is the set of knowledge most likely to be near the heart of enduring truth.

No matter how strongly felt our own opinions may be, passion is not enough to do good theology. Good intentions are not the same as knowledge. And generic Christianity is too thin a tissue to support the weight of real life. If we only know abstracted sayings like the Golden Rule we lack sufficient grasp of our heritage to gain the full value of that which we have inherited from the communion of saints.

Both today's reading from Acts and the one from Luke are vastly enriched if we know what happened just before the first word spoken by our readers. I commend to you a broader reading of Luke, but I'll illustrate what I mean by saying more about Acts.

In Acts Peter and John were on their way to the Temple to offer sacrifice and prayer. A man lame from birth was begging at the gate. Peter commanded him: "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk" (v. 6). After helping him to his feet, the man entered the temple precincts with them, "walking and leaping and praising God" (v. 8). Then the Book of Acts reports that, "while [the previously lame man] clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them" (v. 11).

This is the point at which Peter preaches to the crowd the words we heard this morning. See how the passage assumes a greater stature when one knows more of the story? See why the crowd was more dispose to listen and to act?

It is also useful to know what happened next in the Book of Acts because it illuminates both the power preaching the Gospel and the consequences of it. In Acts 4 one reads that after Peter's impassioned speech he and John were arrested. And - that about five thousand men in the crowd who had heard the disciples came to believe in Christ. Remember that five thousand men in the street implied the presence of thousands of more women and children. This matters because in the first century what the head of the house decided was the path for the whole extended family.

Preaching, witness and action are marks of faith. Like flint against stone both light and heat may come. But a world in darkness called out for faithful proclamation. The world is still full of shadows and light bearers are still needed. By our baptisms we have been commissioned. We cannot say "that is not my job" we can only grasp our vocation with clear intent, or turn away.

It is not just our Scriptures that speak to us and lead us to a life of faith expressed in action. If we know what the colors on the altar indicate, how the creeds we say came to be formed, and the meaning behind the movements of the celebrant we will be encouraged and inspired to move forward as season follows season and deep sounds to deep. There is a richness laid out before us that cannot be apprehended without study and intent. Our tradition is full of wisdom and knowledge, meaning and purpose. There is an opportunity to be formed as disciples by word and deed, desire and understanding.

Yesterday the halls of Saint James were filled with 150 participants in the Christian Formation Festival, a Diocesan event that our own Loree Penner co-chaired. Both bishops and much of the Diocesan staff were here. Forty workshops were offered. Those who came enjoyed the abundant hospitality for which we have become known. No detail from signage to snacks was overlooked. Tens of volunteers provided directions, childcare, administrative support and general good will. We were at our best, yesterday- living out our Baptismal Vows and offering our gifts for the benefit of others. The call to hospitality and service is clear in Scripture. So is connection between the work of our hands and the heart of our Savior. When we do good things in Christ's name we are continuing His work of discipleship, formation and reconciliation. When we do good things in Christ's name with understanding and intention we are being the church.

Friday the Academy hosted the MAESA Fair- a science fair and geography bee involving some 14 Mid-Atlantic Episcopal Schools. We had a parking lot full of buses hundreds of guests from three states. Dr. Legenhausen, the Academy faculty and staff, and tens of parent volunteers seamlessly guided our guest from one end of our 103,000 square foot building to the other - and no one was lost. Minds were opened, hearts were warmed and matters of the spirit stood next to science projects while prayers flowed over the loudspeakers. When we attend to body, mind and Spirit in Christian hospitality we are being the church. As Jesus said when you do anything for one of these little ones, you have done it for me.

Tuesday night we hosted the Vestry discernment workshop. We started with a list of names given by people in the pews. The vestry not only trusted the congregation to make wise choices we depend upon it. All those who are actually active members of the Episcopal church- attending regularly, pledging and visibly interested in our common life- are invited to the workshop. We never know how many will come. But in that mysterious mix of hope, faith and discernment it always seems to work out. We had three people interested in coming, then seven, then five, then four by the night of the workshop.

Was it chance that made the numbers fluctuate then rest at exactly what was needed? I don't think so. Are we not promised that our Father in heaven who knows what we need will provide? Our four new vestry members were raised up by community, drawn by their own discernment, confirmed in their conviction through conversation and bible study with existing vestry members and now stand ready to be affirmed by the congregation at the annual meeting at noon today.

When we believe in God's promises not only with our lips but in our lives, we are being the church. When we are consciously dependent on God's grace we are open to seeing the abundance God offers. Once again we have the new vestry members we need- like manna falling from heaven, or water springing forth from a rock. God promises, then faithfully provides.

Nothing stands in the way of God's promises. Christ's life, ministry, death and Resurrection stand as proof. While we cannot watch Christ eat broiled fish to assuage our doubts, we can come to believe from the stories if we know them. While we cannot put our finger in the holes in Christ's hands left by the nails, we can realize as Thomas did, that opening our heart yields better evidence than poking with our fingers. Challenge, deprivation, suffering, and sin are part of this world. Loss and change are inevitable. But there is much, much more to the picture.

All healthy, faithful communities have both change and continuity. They take in strangers, make disciples and send out apostles - hence we celebrate Art's conversations with other parishes as they consider calling him as their Rector. We give thanks for Art and Erica's ministry among us. We also give thanks for Vic and the other candidates who have come to interview for our Curate position.

And finally, but not least, we give thanks for Loree's ongoing ministry with us as it continues to deepen - bearing good fruit like the Formation Festival of which I have already spoken.

Scripture, tradition and reason help us apprehend the larger picture, the greater light, the more excellent way. So let us recommit ourselves to learning, to growing in grace, to being formed as Christ's disciples. You have heard of that which took place in ancient Palestine and in the past week at St. James. Hundreds heard the word and were moved to actions they might not have otherwise considered. Let us be witnesses to these things. Then let us, as we are called, carry the Word, hold up the light, and give glory to God with our lives. AMEN